STA is pleased to announce that Cookhill Cricket Club has been selected as the fourth recipient of a life-saving defibrillator through its 2025 Community HEART STArters campaign – a charitable initiative designed to improve cardiac emergency preparedness at not-for-profit leisure and sports venues across the UK.

Founded in 1946, Cookhill Cricket Club is a vital part of the Worcestershire community, serving a wide demographic – from children as young as 5 to senior members in their 80s and beyond. The club’s grounds, known locally as the HBMG, host regular cricket matches, training sessions, and community events. Participants range from junior teams and a growing ladies’ section to veteran players and local volunteers who help maintain the grounds.

Given the club’s wide age range and year-round activity – especially during the busy cricket season from April to September – having an on-site defibrillator is a vital safety measure. The nearest defibrillator is currently over a mile away, which could lead to dangerous delays in the event of a cardiac emergency. The new defibrillator provided through STA’s campaign will ensure a faster, more effective response time should an incident occur.

“Receiving this defibrillator will make a significant difference to our club,” said a representative from Cookhill Cricket Club. “With the high level of community involvement and the range of activities we offer throughout the season, having immediate access to a defibrillator not only enhances our emergency preparedness but also provides vital reassurance to our members, visitors, and local residents. While we hope it never needs to be used, knowing it’s there brings real peace of mind for everyone at the HBMG.”

Dave Candler, CEO of STA, added: “We are delighted to support Cookhill Cricket Club as part of our Community HEART STArters campaign. Clubs like this one sit at the heart of their communities – serving people of all ages, promoting physical activity, and bringing people together. Making sure they’re equipped with life-saving devices like defibrillators is exactly what this campaign is all about.”

Another key part of this initiative, all donated defibrillators are registered on The Circuit, the British Heart Foundation’s national defibrillator network, helping emergency services direct 999 callers to the nearest available device when every second counts.

STA’s Community HEART STArters campaign will continue throughout 2025, providing essential emergency equipment to charitable and not-for-profit leisure organisations across the UK – with the goal of uniting communities and saving lives.