The British Heart Foundation (BHF) opened applications on 9 November 2023 for its Community Defibrillator Fund, offering 220 defibrillator packages to communities across the UK. The charity said the scheme is supported by fundraising from its charity partner Royal Mail.
The BHF said areas with greatest need will be prioritised, meaning those with high deprivation and limited access to defibrillators. Successful areas will receive a defibrillator and cabinet, with installation costs covered where required, and communities can order future replacement parts free of charge when they expire or are used in a rescue1. Each device will be registered on The Circuit, the national defibrillator network, so ambulance services can direct bystanders to it in the event of a cardiac arrest1.
The charity cited over 30,000 out-of-hospital cardiac arrests each year in the UK, with fewer than one in ten people surviving, and said every minute without CPR and defibrillation can reduce the chance of survival by up to 10 per cent1. It said more than 79,000 defibrillators are registered on The Circuit but are not evenly distributed, and that research supported by the BHF found people in the most deprived areas of England and Scotland are on average 99 and 317 metres further from their nearest 24/7 defibrillator than those in the least deprived areas respectively1.
The BHF said it is particularly eager to receive applications from community groups in 10 areas with defibrillator black spots, based on Circuit location data1:
| Area | Nation |
|---|---|
| Atherton, Wigan borough near Manchester | England |
| Birkenhead, Wirral Peninsula, Merseyside | England |
| Morecambe, Lancashire | England |
| Carlton, St Ann's, Mapperley and Gedling, Nottingham area | England |
| Drumchapel, north-west Glasgow | Scotland |
| Grangemouth, Falkirk area | Scotland |
| Carrickfergus, 11 miles from Belfast | Northern Ireland |
| Derry~Londonderry | Northern Ireland |
| Merthyr Tydfil, South Wales | Wales |
| Bridgend, South Wales, Cardiff Capital Region | Wales |
"Every defibrillator has the power to save a life – that's why I'm thrilled that we're able to fully fund 220 of these life saving devices for communities across the UK."
Royal Mail's Greg Sage said the company is aiming to fund 420 defibrillators across four years of the partnership1. The BHF said its earlier Nation of Lifesavers scheme has helped install nearly 3,500 devices in the UK1.
Why it matters for households
Cardiac arrest can happen to anyone at any time, and the BHF says early CPR and access to a defibrillator give the best chance of survival1. The fund is aimed at community groups rather than individual households, and the charity invites communities to apply through its website1. The BHF's own guidance on public access defibrillators covers finding the nearest one, and its first aid hub covers emergency help more broadly. Groups considering equipment may find the BHF's comparison of semi-automatic and fully automatic defibrillators relevant to a home or community setting.
What happens next
Applications are open, and the BHF directs communities to apply via its website1. No closing date for applications is given in the announcement. The BHF has not said when awards will be made. Royal Mail's stated aim is to fund 420 defibrillators over four years1. For households involved in local groups, the site's community hub and guide to voluntary organisations that help in UK emergencies set out how community groups fit into wider resilience arrangements.
Voluntary Organisations
