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.
Funding for Lifesaving Equipment
The donation will fund 17 publicly accessible school defibrillators and new bleed control kits across Welwyn Hatfield, helping more people access vital equipment in an emergency and creating safer communities. In addition to installing and maintaining public access defibrillators and bleed control kits across Hertfordshire, Hearts for Herts provides free Heartstart Lifesaver training, giving people the skills and confidence to perform CPR, use a defibrillator and provide emergency first aid.
Source of Funding
The donation was made possible through the Institute of Cemetery and Crematorium Management (ICCM) metals recycling scheme. With the consent of bereaved families, metals remaining after the cremation process, such as surgical implants and coffin fittings, are recycled, with proceeds supporting charitable causes.
Existing Partnership Impact
The partnership between Oak Hill and Hearts for Herts is already making a difference. 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.
Official Statements
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."
Justin Honey-Jones, chair and community trainer at Hearts for Herts, added: "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."
