A life-saving donation is helping put defibrillators and bleed control kits in schools and public spaces in Welwyn Hatfield.
Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council and Oak Hill Crematorium have donated £17,000 to Hearts for Herts, a Hertfordshire charity dedicated to saving lives through education and access to lifesaving equipment.
The donation will fund 17 publicly accessible school defibrillators and new bleed control kits across Welwyn Hatfield.
Councillor Max Holloway, executive member for community and leisure, said: "We're absolutely delighted to donate £17,000 to Hearts for Herts, whose work is helping to save lives here in Welwyn Hatfield and more widely across Hertfordshire.
"It's fantastic that, through the ICCM metals recycling scheme, we're able to support such an important cause and help fund equipment that could one day save a life.
"Alongside providing compassionate cremation services that respect different faiths, personal preferences, and budgets,
"Oak Hill is proud to support the wider community through initiatives like this, enabling families to leave a lasting legacy that benefits others."
Hearts for Herts installs and maintains public access defibrillators and bleed control kits across Hertfordshire and delivers free Heartstart Lifesaver training.
The charity’s sessions teach CPR, defibrillator use, and emergency first aid.
The £17,000 donation was made possible through the Institute of Cemetery and Crematorium Management (ICCM) metals recycling scheme, which recycles metals remaining after cremation—with family consent—to support charitable causes.
Last year, a publicly accessible defibrillator was installed at the entrance to Oak Hill, ensuring lifesaving equipment is available to the local community 24 hours a day.
Justin Honey-Jones, chair and community trainer at Hearts for Herts, said: "Thanks to the generous donation from Oak Hill, we can make 17 school defibrillators publicly available 24/7 across the Welwyn Hatfield community and provide new bleed control kits in areas of greatest need.
"Partnerships like this make a real difference, helping us improve access to lifesaving equipment and giving more people the best possible chance of survival in an emergency."
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