Defibrillator Funding for Community Spaces across England

The Department of Health and Social Care is currently running a £1 million match funded Community Automated External Defibrillators Fund, aimed at increasing the number of AEDs in public places where they are most needed and to help save lives.

All types of organisations may apply.

To be eligible, applicants must:

• Be based in England.
• Not be an organisation that is eligible for the Department of Education scheme, eg, a school or an academy.
• Locate the secure defibrillator on an external wall in an area that is accessible to members of the public 24 hours per day. (The equipment must be installed and registered on The Circuit within 4 weeks).
• Be able to provide an electrical power source to ensure the defibrillator cabinet light and heater operate to keep the device at the right temperature
• Provide match funding for their application (c. £750).

The funding is based on a ‘first come first served basis’.

Applications will be accepted until all the funding has been allocated.

There are about 400 units left, and it is expected that the scheme will close to applications within four to six weeks from 1 November 2024 (by the end of November or mid December 2024) though it could be sooner.

Groups should apply now to avoid possible disappointment.