STA is delighted to announce that Medway Watersports Trust Ltd has been selected as the fifth recipient of a life-saving defibrillator through its 2025 Community Heart STArters campaign. The initiative has been set up to provide charitable leisure and aquatic organisations across the UK with essential defibrillators to boost emergency preparedness and community safety.

Founded in 2012 and run entirely by volunteers, Medway Watersports Trust helps children, young people, and adults enjoy safe access to the tidal River Medway through canoeing, kayaking, sailing, and powerboating. The charity operates as a fully licensed outdoor activity provider and is recognised as a Training Centre by both the Royal Yachting Association and Paddle UK.

Operating between May and September – when conditions on the tidal estuary are safest – the charity’s instructors and safety boat drivers are highly trained, with many volunteers continuing to give back well into their 70s.

“Our roles are physical in nature,” said Pete Snowdon, Centre Principal at Medway Watersports. “From launching and recovering boats to maintaining the site, the work can be demanding – especially given that many of our volunteers are now in their 60s and 70s. Our existing defibrillator is ageing, and sourcing replacement parts has become increasingly difficult. A new, fully automatic model was out of reach for us financially, so this generous donation from STA is truly appreciated. It gives peace of mind not only to our team of volunteers, but also to the children, young people and adults who take part in our sessions.”

Dave Candler, CEO of STA, commented:

“Medway Watersports Trust is a perfect example of the kind of community organisation we set out to support with this campaign. Their commitment, passion and decades of volunteer service are inspiring, and it’s exactly why we’re proud to provide them with this life-saving equipment.”

All defibrillators donated through the Community HEART STArters campaign are registered on The Circuit, the British Heart Foundation’s national defibrillator network. This ensures emergency services can direct 999 callers to the nearest available device when every second counts – therefore, STA’s donation not only benefits the recipient organisation, but also the surrounding community.

The campaign will continue throughout 2025 with the aim of uniting communities and saving lives by equipping grassroots and charitable organisations with the tools they need to protect the people they serve.

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