Exciting News
We Are Proud to Be the Founders of Heart of Richmond
Heart of Richmond began with a simple idea: to place two publicly accessible defibrillators close to where our company is based in Richmond, North Yorkshire “The real Richmond” Up North.
When we faced some negativity suggesting the defibrillators were “only being placed near us,” that criticism didn’t diminish the vision. Instead, it strengthened it. Rather than stepping back, I made a bold decision: to place 20 defibrillators across our town.
What started as a small idea quickly became a much bigger community project.
Building the Team
I reached out to my fellow Volunteer Community First Responder, Loo Morton, owner of Neeps and Tatties Greengrocers, and asked if she would support the project as Treasurer and our “money lady.” With Loo on board, Heart of Richmond had its Co-Founder.
Both Loo and I then brought our partners into the project, forming the founding and running team of our community charity:
- Founder: Lee Whitworth – Director, A&E Training Ltd
- Co-Founder: Loo Morton – Owner, Neeps and Tatties Greengrocers
- Ali Whitworth: Teacher & Financial Director, A&E Training Ltd
- Dave Morton: Owner, Neeps and Tatties Greengrocers
From One Defib to a Townwide Movement
What I believed would be an uphill battle taking many years began with a letter to North Yorkshire Councillor Stuart Parsons, asking for support. Stuart stepped forward and funded Defibrillator Site No. 1.
Within months, the first defibrillator was live.
That moment sparked momentum. With a strong social media push explaining that if every household in Richmond donated just £8.18, we could fund 20 sites, the response was incredible. People stopped me in the street to donate cash, and soon we were installing Site No. 3.
You might wonder about Site No. 2. That came thanks to Andy Galloway from Ply-Line Services, who told me the businesses on the Trading Estate wanted to be involved. He collected enough funding for one and a half sites, securing Defibrillator No. 2.
One of the first major moments of realisation came when Russell Lord of the Richmond Company of Mercers, Grocers and Haberdashers knocked on the door and handed over a cheque for £1,000. That was when it truly hit home: this charity had the full backing of the community.
Where We Are Today
Today, Richmond now has 23 “Heart of Richmond” defibrillator sites, providing lifesaving access across the town.
Expanding the Heart: Heart of Catterick
The journey didn’t stop there.
I received a call from Laura Howey of Love Property, who wanted to install a defibrillator site in Catterick Garrison. After a long conversation, it was clear Laura wanted to replicate what we had built in Richmond.
I suggested Heart of Catterick, following the same ethos and structure as Heart of Richmond. I offered to co-found and support the project fully if Laura led the fundraising.
Within months, Laura called to say she had secured funding for Site No. 1, I approched Bob Heron of Heron Contracting who installed the site free of charge.
This was quickly followed by:
- Support from Swaledale Mountain Rescue ho raised funds for an external Defibrillator on their building in Catterick.
- Funding for another site on Catterick Green, raised through donations from the lady who ran the Catterick Village Bus Stop Shop during COVID
Heart of Catterick is already at Site No. 3 and growing.
All these sites wouldnt have been possible without the support of many people, however the sites would sit on the posts without the support of Jason Hammond of HSF, who has made Defib Cabinet Back Plates.
This is where “Heart of” Website has come from…… We Will Keep The Hearts of Our Towns Beating Longer and Stronger.
