Sutton-in-Ashfield’s ATTFE College proudly announced yesterday (Wednesday, 18 February 2026) a transformative partnership with the Stop the Bleed initiative, launching a major campaign to enhance public safety in Nottinghamshire.
The official launch took place at the Ashfield Community Health and Wellbeing Centre in Kirkby-in-Ashfield, where the first Stop the Bleed kit was installed in a defibrillator cabinet outside the centre on Portland Street in the town.
Present at the event were key stakeholders, including the East Midlands Ambulance Service, Nottinghamshire Freemasons and ATTFE College.
The event was also attended by Adele Cook.
This milestone in Kirkby-in-Ashfield kicked off the county-wide rollout, ensuring every defibrillator across Nottinghamshire is equipped with these vital kits.
As part of this effort, over 1,000 defibrillator cabinets across the county will be equipped with Stop the Bleed kits and rolled out to every cabinet between now and August.
This initiative is being kindly funded by Nottinghamshire Freemasons, who have donated £6,000, with additional support from others, including Ashfield and Nottinghamshire County Councillor Joe Rich, with ATTFE College providing the life-saving training sessions to individuals, community groups and organisations.
A further funding bid has been submitted by Nottinghamshire Freemasons to support the initiative.
This initiative has its roots in a highly successful community programme, where over 3,200 people were trained between September and December last year. A video was also produced and has been seen by over 32,000 people; it was shown at league football games at Nottingham Forest, Notts County and Mansfield Town during December last year.
Since then, it has gone from strength to strength, forging national links, and will continue its success throughout 2026 and beyond.
“We are honoured to have inaugurated this critical step at the Ashfield Community Health and Wellbeing Centre,” said Liz Barrett OBE DL, Principal of ATTFE College. She added, “By integrating these life-saving kits into defibrillator cabinets, we are equipping our communities in Nottinghamshire with essential tools that can make the difference between life and death.”
Peter Gregory, Community Lead for Nottinghamshire Freemasons, said, “This initiative and essential funding will help train our communities and increase resilience. Through the funding of Stop the Bleed kits in all defibrillator cabinets across Nottinghamshire, people will know what to do if they come across someone with a severe bleed.”
Michael Barnett-Connolly, Head of Community Response, Collaboration and Engagement at East Midlands Ambulance Service, said: “We started out in Nottinghamshire with five bleed control cabinets. We are now putting 73 into public defibrillator sites and seeking consent for a further 826 in community-owned sites. Through this partnership initiative, it will make the public aware and prepared in case of an emergency situation.”
Residents are encouraged to join this life-saving initiative and learn how they can help protect others.
It is essential for everyone to know how to save a life if the situation ever arises at home, work or in the community.
To book a place at any of these sessions, please email Lee Brazier at ATTFE College at lee.brazier@attrust.org.uk or telephone ATTFE College on 01623 441310.
