An East Lancashire MP has welcomed the launch of a government fund for life-saving defibrillators, and urged local community groups to bid.

Last week the government launched the application process for the Community Automated External Defibrillators (AED) fund in which community organisations can apply for a grant to fund a defibrillator for their local area.

Backed by £1 million of government funding, the defibrillator grant will provide at least 1,000 new defibrillators for community spaces across England.

Each new defibrillator will be externally mounted to enable 24 hour access by members of the public.

Pendle MP Andrew Stephenson has welcomed the launch as defibrillators provide vital treatment, with latest research showing that use of these devices within three to five minutes of a cardiac arrest increases the chance of survival by over 40 per cent.

Mr Stephenson, who has volunteered as a first responder for several years, said: “Having helped support several local initiatives, Pendle already has a good number of life-saving defibrillators in place including in all our schools.

“However, there’s still room to improve coverage and you never know when or where a defibrillator could be urgently needed to save someone’s life. That’s why I’m urging community groups across Pendle to consider applying to the Community AED fund.”

To receive funding, community organisations will be asked to demonstrate that defibrillators will be placed in areas where they are most needed, such as rural areas, places with high footfall or spaces for vulnerable people.

Examples include town halls, community centres, local shops, post offices and local parks, as these spaces ensure that defibrillators are evenly spread throughout communities and easily accessible if someone is experiencing an unexpected cardiac arrest.

The funding is part of the government's drive to equip the health system with the right technology to help save lives.

Applications for funding will be submitted to Smarter Society and the London Hearts Charity, who have been jointly chosen to manage the grant funding as they will bring industry knowledge of defibrillators and an understanding of where they should be installed.

They have designed engagement and application processes to appeal to a wide and diverse audience. 

Applications for funding can be made online at https://www.defibgrant.co.uk/#apply.