How to Start a Community Defibrillator Project in the UK
Sudden cardiac arrest is one of the leading causes of death worldwide. In many cases, a defibrillator (automated external defibrillator, or AED) placed in a community can double or triple someone’s chance of survival, if responders can access it quickly.
Starting a community defibrillator project involves more than buying a device. You need funding, careful placement, community buy-in, and registration so that emergency services can locate it. This guide walks you through the key steps, and shows how a rental defibrillator option from Defib Space can simplify implementation.
1. Form a Working Group & Define Your Scope
Before you source a device, get people and roles in place:
Core team: include community leaders, local health/first aid contacts, representatives from local authority, and volunteers.
Guardian(s): assign one or more “AED Guardians” who take responsibility for maintenance, checks, and liaising with emergency services.
Stakeholder engagement: inform neighbours, schools, sports clubs, local council, local media.
Define coverage area: which streets, public venues or zones do you want covered? What demand or footfall exists?
Having a clear map or plan helps later when justifying placement or applying for funding.
2. Explore Funding & Financial Models
One of the biggest hurdles is finding money. Here are common funding routes in the UK:
a) Grant schemes & community funds
The Department of Health & Social Care (DHSC) Community Automated External Defibrillators Fund is a match-funding scheme: many applications will require around £750 of match funding from you.
Local councils, boroughs or parish councils sometimes have small grants or community budgets that can be used toward AEDs, especially in public or high footfall locations.
Charities and trusts like AEDdonate can help with full or partial funding for community defibrillator projects.
Resuscitation Council UK offers a Community Grant Scheme (up to ~£1,500) to help small charities or community groups with CPR/defibrillator awareness or procurement.
The British Heart Foundation (BHF) sometimes open funding rounds for free or subsidised defibrillator packages to community groups.
b) Local fundraising & crowdfunding
Raise awareness in your community with events (sponsored walks, bake sales, local fairs).
Use crowdfunding platforms (JustGiving, GoFundMe, or UK civic platforms like Spacehive) to invite contributions.
Approach local businesses, service clubs (Rotary, Lions), and philanthropic donors.
Seek in-kind support (e.g. installation labour, local print shops, signage).
c) Donations-in-kind or partnerships
Sometimes an organisation will donate the device or cabinet (or subsidise it) in exchange for recognition.
Partner with local clubs, schools, or community centres to share cost and coverage.
d) Rental / lease / subscription models (your advantage)
If up-front capital is a hurdle, your rent-a-defib model can be a viable alternative:
“Looking to rent a defibrillator? Defib Space is the UK’s trusted and leading provider of automatic defibrillators for rental, offering fully inclusive, cost-effective packages for businesses and public spaces. … Our automated external defibrillators (AEDs) are easy to use, reliable, and designed for emergency situations … our rental defibrillators come ready to use, providing clear voice prompts and automatic shock delivery to help save lives fast.”
This model reduces the burden on the community or group: installation, replacement parts, servicing, and monitoring might be handled by the provider under the rental contract. It gives flexibility, especially in pilot or interim phases.
3. Choosing Location & Cabinet Placement
Where and how you install your defibrillator is crucial. A poorly located or poorly accessible device may as well not exist in emergencies.
a) Location principles
Public, easily accessible is ideal. Your defibrillator should serve both the intended target community and passers-by.
It should be well signposted with visible signage and directional pointers.
In selecting the wall or support, consider approach accessibility (e.g. wheelchair route), lighting, and vulnerability to weather.
Under UK equality law, the handle of the cabinet should be at no more than 135 cm high, with clear floor space for wheelchair access.
b) Cabinets: locked or unlocked?
The consensus recommendation for public access defibrillators is to use unlocked outdoor cabinets, allowing instant access. Locked cabinets can slow rescue and may impose delays.
If you choose a locked or coded cabinet (e.g. to deter misuse or to allow only authorised access), the access code must be registered with ambulance dispatch services so it can be given to callers in an emergency.
For schools or shared facilities, you may place the cabinet outdoors but in a heated, weather-protected enclosure, especially if you want community access beyond business hours.
Ensure that the cabinet is connected to power (for lighting, heating, alarms) if required by its specification.
c) Proximity & coverage
Use a GIS or simple map to check where the nearest AEDs already are (registered ones via The Circuit, for example) and aim to fill coverage “gaps”.
Place devices near places of gathering, community halls, sports grounds, shops, transit hubs, but avoid risk areas (e.g. places frequently vandalised without supervision).
4. Device Selection, Installation & Setup
While your rental option covers a lot, these considerations still matter for whatever AED you end up with.
Choose a reliable, certified AED model with clear voice prompts and simple operation for lay rescuers.
Ensure the provider handles consumables (pads, batteries) with alerts or replacement service.
Install signage and instructions (often offered by suppliers).
Arrange for a qualified electrician to mount the cabinet (if wall mounted) and supply power to it if needed.
5. Maintenance, Monitoring & Community Training
An AED is only effective if it’s ready and people know how to use it.
Regular checks: visual inspection, battery status, expiry dates of pads. The Circuit offers reminders.
After use: Replace consumables promptly and return the unit to ready state.
Training: offer periodic CPR and AED familiarisation sessions to local volunteers, staff, community groups. Promote the BHF’s free online RevivR training.
Display instructions next to the device.
Encourage local awareness campaigns so people know an AED exists and where it is.
6. Registration & Integration with The Circuit (BHF)
Registration is essential. Even the best-placed AED is ineffective if emergency services can’t find it.
What is The Circuit? It is the UK’s national defibrillator network, linking AEDs to NHS ambulance services. Ambulance call handlers can see location, accessibility, and access method.
Why register? If an AED isn’t registered, dispatch cannot direct a caller to it in an emergency. Registration also gives you access to reminders, status checks, and helps maintain accurate data.
How to register:
Go to The Circuit website and create an account.
Provide precise location (address, plus What3Words helps)
Detail availability (24/7, office hours) and cabinet lock method (if locked) and access code if applicable.
Upload brand, model, status, photos.
Confirm registration and assign Guardian(s).
Keep data up to date: if you change access hours or cabinet code, update it so ambulance services have correct info.
7. Launch, Promotion & Sustainability
Hold a launch event with local press to raise awareness.
Place directional signage (e.g. “AED this way”) on nearby streets.
Engage with local schools, clubs, and organisations for CPR/AED training.
Set up a schedule or rota for Guardians to inspect regularly.
Monitor usage, consumable costs, and consider expanding to further zones.
Conclusion
Starting a community defibrillator project in the UK is ambitious but deeply valuable. By assembling a team, securing funding (or choosing a rental option), selecting optimal placement, maintaining the device, and registering with The Circuit, you can give your community a much better chance of survival in a cardiac emergency.
Defib Space’s rent-a-defib model offers a flexible, lower-risk way to get started quickly without large capital outlay. Combined with thoughtful planning, this approach can make your project viable and sustainable.
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Sources
BHF “Apply for a free defibrillator for your community” - funding eligibility, registration note: https://www.bhf.org.uk/how-you-can-help/how-to-save-a-life/defibrillators/apply-for-a-free-defibrillator-for-your-community
BHF “Where should you put your defibrillator?” - placement, cabinet guidance: https://defibrillators.bhf.org.uk/resources/where-should-you-put-your-defibrillator
Resuscitation Council UK Community Grant Scheme: https://www.resus.org.uk/get-involved/community-grant-scheme
BHF “Registering your defibrillator” - registration, The Circuit details: https://defibrillators.bhf.org.uk/resources/registering-your-defibrillator
The Circuit - national defibrillator network: https://www.thecircuit.uk/
Consensus statement on AED cabinets: https://www.resus.org.uk/about-us/news-and-events/consensus-statement-aed-cabinets
DfE AED guidance for schools - on registration and cabinet code: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/67936b102de28ea2d392f35b/Automated_External_Defibrillators__AEDs__guidance_for_schools.pdf
Defibrillator funding / match funding schemes: DHSC Fund, etc. - e.g. https://www.cvsce.org.uk/fund/defibrillator-funding-community-spaces
