About Us

Heartwize specialise in providing secondary school and community training in lifesaving skills including the use of a portable defibrillator.

We are a Leicestershire based organisation founded by two cardiologists from Glenfield Hospital. The project came about when, after a clinical trial, Dr William Toff was left with 46 functioning Automated External Defibrillators (AED's). Following a discussion with a colleague, (Dr Doug Skehan), the pair decided to donate them to local schools. This led to the Heartwize training programme being set up to ensure that the defibrillators were handed over with the correct advice, training and information on how to use and maintain them.

The programme itself was launched in February 2014 with a Launch event at the Tigers RFC. Every secondary school in the city and county was invited to come along, collect their defibrillator and get some training and support on how to use it. Approximately 50% of schools participated so the project grew to try and incorporate all Leicestershire’s secondary schools and to train Year 10 students (14 – 15 year olds) countywide.

To date Heartwize have donated 93 defibrillators to schools in Leicester and Leicestershire, trained over 20,000 students, more than 500 staff and 3,000 plus members of the community.  Demand for our training continues from schools and colleges and now from other sources such as sports clubs, businesses and community groups every year.

During a Royal visit in 2018, the Duke of Cambridge found out some more about Heartwize. This can be viewed here.

See comments from some of the people we have trained;

"Absolutely fantastic training course. Everyone needs to learn these simple yet vital techniques.  Thank you Julie"

"It was fun learning how to use the defibrillator"

"Very helpful will find my nearest defib. and maybe hope that a map of British Isles defibs. - would be amazing"

"Excellent and informative. Trainer very knowledgeable and professional"