Are you eligible to apply for a free defibrillator for your community?
/Apply for a free defibrillator for your community
Find out if your community group is eligible for a free, BHF-funded defibrillator. Having a defibrillator and knowing how to do CPR will give members of your community a better chance at surviving a cardiac arrest.
What’s included in the award package
a defibrillator, complete with pads and kit accessories
a cabinet, which is not lockable (if awarded, the cabinet must be kept unlocked and uncoded. For more information on why this is part of our criteria, see the guidance from Resuscitation Council UK)
replacement pads and batteries when required (when they expire or are used with the defibrillator)
resources for RevivR online CPR training.
If you’re unable to install the cabinet yourself or with the help from your local community, this may be offered as part of the package.
Who can apply
You must be applying on behalf of a community group. Some examples of groups we accept are:
church organisations and other places of worship
social clubs
parish councils
local social enterprise organisations
community centres.
Conditions for applying
To be eligible for a free, BHF-funded defibrillator, you must:
keep the defibrillator in the provided cabinet, unlocked and uncoded so that it’s accessible to the public 24 hours a day
make sure that the cabinet has a constant electricity supply so that the defibrillator stays at the right temperature in cold weather and is visible in the dark
have a clear need for the device (for example, be in a busy location, or where a public access defibrillator (PAD) is not within 200 metres)
have authorisation from the property owner to install the defibrillator
register the defibrillator on The Circuit (the national defibrillator network) within 4 weeks of installation, to ensure ambulance call handlers can see your defibrillator when 999 is called in response to a cardiac arrest
be committed to promoting BHF’s free online RevivR CPR training in your community with the resources provided.
Who cannot apply
Unfortunately, we cannot give funding to:
individuals (if you've been recommended an individual defibrillator, speak to your cardiologist or doctor about how to get this equipment)
GP surgeries
dental practices
schools and colleges
military organisations
police
private or profit-making companies
emergency services
community first responders (unless they’re applying for a public access defibrillator to be placed in a fixed location in their local community).
If you’re not sure if your organisation is eligible, or you have a question about the application process, please check our FAQs to see if your question is answered. You can contact us at defibs@bhf.org.uk if you still require support.
How to apply
A limited number of funded defibrillators are available in each annual funding cycle. Applications will be reviewed monthly against a set of criteria so awards can be made to communities that need them most. Areas prioritised include those with fewer registered defibrillators and communities where local health needs indicate a higher risk of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest.
To apply for a defibrillator, simply follow these steps:
Create an account – You'll need to provide an email address, password and name to register for an account and get access our application form.
Fill in our application form – It usually takes around 25 minutes to complete. Your progress saves automatically, so you can return to it at any time.
Submit your form – We recommend submitting your application within 1 week of beginning to apply. We’ll let you know if you’ve been successful.
Apply for a free defibrillator
For more information, please check the website below:
