Benenden Charitable Trust and St John Ambulance partner for national AED donation campaign

The healthcare and first aid charities have donated Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) to 45 businesses across the UK.

07 November 2025, by Megan Anderson.

Benenden Health's Charitable Trust and national first aid charity St John Ambulance, have partnered to donate Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) to 45 corporate members of Benenden Health. These members will now have access to a life-saving device in the workplace, along with training to support employees in their workplace.

St John Ambulance, as part of the campaign, has supplied its new ‘HEART Two’ AED, a small, lightweight device made for saving lives in workplaces and community settings. It comes with animated illustrations on a screen and a speaker voice that gives clear instructions, with an option for use on a child. The device is designed to give users the confidence to act quickly, giving people in cardiac arrest the best chance of survival.

All awarded HEART Two defibrillators funded by Benenden Health are also registered onto The Circuit - the national defibrillator network, meaning people can be directed to their nearest device by call handlers when they call emergency services. By registering on the network, it also allows other bystanders in the area locate the AED in case of emergency.

Businesses that have been awarded an AED include the UK Supreme Court, The Stoll Foundation, Fire Protection Services Ltd and Grüum. The awarded businesses also span across the UK.

Benenden Health's decision to award the AEDs reflects data (2025) from the Resuscitation Council UK (RCUK) and DVSA which shows for every minute's delay in defibrillation, the chance of survival reduces by up to 10%. Survival rates can reach up to 70% if a defibrillator is used within the first three to five minutes of a cardiac arrest.

Dr Cheryl Lythgoe, Matron for Benenden Health and Head of Benenden Charitable Trust comments, “Benenden Health currently supports over 1,200 businesses in providing healthcare benefits to their employees at an affordable cost. Businesses that are, across the UK, feeling the pinch, but employees still need access to life-saving support. With over 75% of cardiac arrests occurring outside of hospitals each year in the UK, and survival rates as low as one in ten1, timely intervention is critical.

"Health emergencies can affect anyone, yet access to life-saving equipment like AEDs isn't universal. That’s why Benenden Charitable Trust, together with Benenden Health, has partnered with the experts at St John Ambulance to donate 45 AEDs to our corporate members who need them most; helping to close the gap in emergency care and protect more lives in the workplace."

St John Ambulance supplies acquisition sales manager Michelle Warburton said, "We are delighted to have partnered with Benenden Health to equip its members with one of our new HEART defibrillators. The device is simple and can be used by anyone which is vital in a cardiac arrest emergency, where every second counts.

"When you buy a HEART defibrillator from St John Ambulance more lives will be saved, not just by using one in a cardiac arrest, but because profits from the sale go back into supporting our charity's life-saving work."

Paul Bambury, Director of Operations for St Luke's Community Centre in Islington, London, was one of the 45 Benenden Health members awarded an AED as part of the campaign and shares, “A big ‘thank you’ to Benenden Charitable Trust for donating a new defibrillator (AED) to St Luke’s Community Centre.

"It's a really meaningful gift for us, something that can genuinely save lives. Having an AED on site give peace of mind to our staff, volunteers and the hundreds of people who come through our doors each week. It will also be a huge help when our team are out and about picking up our older members, knowing we have it close by if ever needed.

"Beyond St Luke’s, it's great to know this device will be available for the wider community too, helping keep our neighbourhood safer and more supported."