BHF's Community Defibrillator Funding Programme reopens

The British Heart Foundation's (BHF) Community Defibrillator Funding Programme has recently reopened.

The programme allows eligible groups to apply for a free defibrillator for their community, allocating the defibrillators to areas of greatest need.

Successful awards include a defibrillator, cabinet, materials for free online CPR training as well as free installation if required.

Applications are reviewed monthly to ensure that defibrillators are award to the communities that need them the most, prioritising areas that have fewer registered defibrillators. 

Using various data sets to assess multiple factors in each postcode (such as incidence rates of cardiac arrest), awards are then made to ensure defibrillator is going to areas of greatest need. 

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Who can apply

You must be applying on behalf of a community group. Some examples of groups we accept are:

• sports teams
• church organisations and other places of worship
• social clubs
• parish councils
• local social enterprise organisations
• community centres.

Who cannot apply

Awards cannot be made to the following, though this is not an exhaustive list:

• individuals (if you've been recommended an individual defibrillator, speak to your cardiologist or doctor about how to get this equipment)  
• schools and colleges (though clubs and groups can apply if they use a school or college)
• private or profit-making companies 

Did you know?

• 1 in 100 young individuals have a cardiac condition which will require monitoring and could cause health problems later in life.
• Every week in the UK, 12 fit and young healthy young people under the age of 35 die of undiagnosed cardiac conditions.
• 1 in 300 young individuals have a potentially life-threatening cardiac condition. 

Sam Booth

In November 2024, Cheshire Phoenix player Sam Booth suffered a cardiac arrest during a Jnr. NBL game.

The quick thinking of staff from both teams, spectating parents – some of whom gave Sam CPR – and the rapid arrival of the air ambulance, along with the availability of an on-site defibrillator, all played their part in making sure the outcome was a positive one.   

The incident highlighted the importance of first aid training, the availability of a defibrillator and, where possible, cardiac screening. 

Andy Howse, Basketball England’s Head of Physiotherapy and Sport Science, said: 

“It’s vital that defibs are available – and crucially, that people know where they are and how to use them. The incident with Sam last year was a stark reminder of the importance of that. 

"Defibs should be accessible within one minute of a court or gym to get the best outcome from such an event.

“We, as Basketball England, continue to support all our clubs to offer guidance, resources and information about training and obtaining the right equipment, and the reopening of the Community Defib Funding Programme is a positive development that all clubs should explore."

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