As part of the Save a Life campaign, St John Ambulance is collaborating with the London Borough of Bexley to offer free lifesaving awareness sessions, giving Bexley residents the opportunity to learn vital skills that could one day help save a life.
Residents are invited to attend a free drop-in awareness session where experienced St John Ambulance members will provide practical awareness sessions on:
- CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation) for adults, children and babies
- How to respond to severe bleeding
- The recovery position
- How to use a defibrillator
There will also be plenty of opportunity to ask questions and build confidence in responding to emergency situations.
Event details
Date: Saturday 19 September 2026
Time: 9.30am to 4pm
Location: Civic Offices, 2 Watling Street, Bexleyheath, DA6 7AT
No booking is required. Simply drop in and you will be guided through the session, which takes approximately 45 minutes.
Free parking is available in the rear car park of the Civic Offices. Please enter the building via the front entrance.
The awareness session is open to people of all ages and abilities and everyone is welcome. Whether you are learning these skills for the first time or refreshing your knowledge, you will leave better prepared to help someone in need.
If a large community group, organisation or workplace would like to attend, please email david.easton@sja.org.uk. Arrangements will be made for you to receive your awareness session together on the day.
Next year, St John Ambulance celebrates its 150th anniversary, marking 150 years of equipping communities with the skills and confidence to save lives. We would love to see as many Bexley residents as possible take part, helping to create a community of confident lifesavers.
Councillor David Leaf, Leader of the Council, said:
Knowing what to do in an emergency can make the difference between life and death. We are delighted to be collaborating with St John Ambulance to offer this free awareness session, giving residents the opportunity to learn practical skills that could one day help save the life of a family member, friend, neighbour or even a stranger.
As St John Ambulance prepares to celebrate its 150th anniversary in 2027, I encourage as many residents as possible to take advantage of this fantastic opportunity. Together, we can build a more confident, resilient community where more people have the skills to step forward and help when it matters most."
St John Ambulance spokesperson, Dean Gardiner, said:
Local St John Ambulance units have been supported by Past Mayor, Cllr Christine Catterall, Sidcup BID, the East Wickham & Welling War Memorial Trust and local Rotary units to purchase new defibrillators that are already being deployed across the Borough. We are delighted to be working alongside the London Borough of Bexley to enable our residents with the skills and confidence to help someone close to them, should they need this type of care. You will be warmly welcomed on the 19th.”
Help bring a defibrillator to your community
The training event also supports the London Ambulance Service's HeartStarters campaign, which aims to increase access to life-saving defibrillators in the places where they are needed most.
Every minute counts during a cardiac arrest and having a defibrillator nearby can significantly improve a person's chances of survival.
Residents are encouraged to identify suitable locations in their neighbourhood where a defibrillator could be installed.
This could include:
- Outside a community building or place of worship
- A sheltered location near local shops
- A communal space within a residential area
The campaign is also looking for local defibrillator guardians who can occasionally check that devices remain accessible and in good working order.
Installation is free, and training will be provided to you and members of your community on how to use a defibrillator, alongside basic first aid.
If you know of a suitable location, or would like to find out more, please contact the Bexley Community Champions team at BexleyChampions@selondonics.nhs.uk.