Press Release
New Patron for Herefordshire Heartstart
Herefordshire Heartstart is pleased to announce that The Countess of Darnley JP. Her Majesty’s Lord-Lieutenant of Herefordshire has agreed to be our Patron.
Herefordshire Heartstart is a local charity, (registered charity number 1082309) supporting the people of Herefordshire with free Heartstart how to save a life courses.
Dr John Ballance, Chairman and Medical Director for Herefordshire Heartstart said “we are thrilled and delighted that Lady Darnley has agreed to become our new patron. We look forward to working with Lady Darnley, to help increase coverage of the community courses and importantly the schools training that we offer.”
Loraine Coleman, Co-ordinator/Project Manager for the charity says “I am absolutely delighted to hear this news. I am sure that Lady Darnley will be a great asset to the charity.”
“Since 1996 we have been supporting the people of Herefordshire with free emergency life support skills training, which teaches members of the public simple skills that can save a life. We wish to continue delivering this training, so that more people can benefit from learning these skills.
Courses are held throughout the county for various groups, organisations, other voluntary organisations and charities, including St Michaels Hospice, Homestart and Hereford Community Farm etc. Public courses are also held in various venues across the county.
Over the last four years, the number of people being trained has increased. In January we trained our 21,000 person through our community scheme.
Year on year the number of schoolchildren now being trained will be increasing, due to the number of new schools now signed up to deliver Heartstart, with more staff now trained to deliver these vital skills.
Approximately 4,000 + schoolchildren in Herefordshire benefit from receiving Heartstart training each year. We estimate that more than 30,000+ schoolchildren will now have received training in Herefordshire.”
We support this training through small grants from charitable trusts, fundraising, group donations and the generosity of the general public who have attended our courses.
Anyone can attend a free two hour Heartstart course, or can book a course for their group. At a two hour course they will learn how to perform:- rescue breaths and chest compressions (CPR), as well as dealing with an unconscious casualty, choking, serious bleeding and heart attack. These are simple skills that can and do save lives.
Details of courses coming up each month can be found on our website www.herefordshireheartstart.org or by contacting:-
The Scheme Co-ordinator/Project Manager Mrs Loraine Coleman
If you would like to attend a public course or are interested in a course for your group, volunteering opportunities or could help by organising a fundraising event to support the charity, please email info@herefordshireheartstart.org or call 0845 60 60 654
Or write to Herefordshire Heartstart, PO Box 305, HEREFORD HR1 9JD
Notes to Editor:
Photo shows: Loraine Coleman, Lady Darnley and Dr John Ballance
Herefordshire Heartstart is a registered charity (no 1082309) established in 1996 and is affiliated to the British Heart Foundation to run free two hour How to save a life courses. These courses are available to anyone, to teach them the necessary skills to keep someone alive until the emergency services arrive.
Herefordshire Heartstart is affiliated to the British Heart Foundation, but we are not funded by them nor the Government for our service. We are a local initiative helping the people of Herefordshire. We rely on donations and grants to keep this vital service running.
Loraine Coleman, Co-ordinator/Project Manager Herefordshire Heartstart
Tel: 0845 60 60 654 or email
info@herefordshireheartstart.org or info@herefordshireheartstart.org
22/4/15 9.20am Ends
