Community CPR Workshop in South Shields

Community CPR & AED Awareness Workshop | Marsden Road Community Centre | South Shields

❤️ When a Few Minutes Can Save a Life

Cardiac arrest can happen to anyone, anywhere and at any time. Every year, tens of thousands of people across the UK experience an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest, yet many lives could be saved if more people felt confident enough to step forward and begin CPR while waiting for the emergency services to arrive.

At First Aid Saves Lives CIC, we believe everyone should have the opportunity to learn these life-saving skills, regardless of their age, background or financial circumstances.

That belief was at the heart of our recent free Community CPR and AED Workshop, held at Marsden Road Community Centre in South Shields.

The workshop brought together members of the local community for an evening of practical learning, confidence building and hands-on experience using CPR manikins and automated external defibrillator (AED) training equipment.

Many people arrived feeling nervous and unsure of what to expect…

…they left with the confidence to act if someone ever needed their help.

Workshop Information	Details
Partner Organisation	Marsden Road Community Centre
Workshop	Community CPR & AED Awareness
Location	South Shields
Audience	Local Residents
Duration	Approximately 2 Hours
Cost	Free Community Workshop
Skills Covered	CPR, AED Awareness, Calling 999, Cardiac Arrest Recognition
Delivered By	First Aid Saves Lives CIC
Workshop Aim	Giving local residents the confidence to save a life

Why Community CPR Training Matters

When someone suffers a cardiac arrest, every minute without CPR and defibrillation significantly reduces their chances of survival.

While our emergency services do an incredible job, they cannot always arrive immediately.

That means the first person to help is often:

A family member
A neighbour
A colleague
A friend
A complete stranger

Learning CPR gives ordinary people the confidence to become extraordinary when it matters most.

Working Together With Marsden Road Community Centre

Community centres are at the heart of local neighbourhoods, making them the perfect place to bring life-saving education to the people who need it most.

Working alongside Marsden Road Community Centre, we created a relaxed, welcoming environment where everyone felt comfortable asking questions, practising new skills and learning together.

One of the biggest misconceptions people have is that CPR is difficult to learn.

The reality couldn’t be more different.

With expert guidance, clear demonstrations and plenty of hands-on practice, anyone can learn the basics that could one day save a life.

What We Covered During the Workshop

Throughout the evening, participants learned the essential skills needed to respond confidently during a cardiac emergency.

Topics Included

✅ Recognising cardiac arrest

✅ Keeping yourself safe

✅ Calling 999

✅ Performing effective CPR

✅ Hands-only CPR

✅ Working with another rescuer

✅ Using a Public Access Defibrillator (AED)

✅ What happens when the ambulance arrives

Everything was explained in plain English, with practical demonstrations followed by plenty of opportunities to practise.

Hands-On Learning Makes All the Difference

One of the biggest strengths of our workshops is that they are practical.

Every participant had the opportunity to practise CPR using professional training manikins while receiving individual guidance from Adam and Helen.

At the beginning of the workshop, many people admitted they had never attempted CPR before.

Some worried about:

“What if I do it wrong?”
“Could I hurt someone?”
“Would I panic?”
“How would I know what to do?”

These are completely normal concerns.

As the evening progressed, confidence grew with every practice session.

People who had arrived feeling nervous were encouraging one another, asking questions and leaving with smiles on their faces.

Watching that transformation is one of the most rewarding parts of delivering community workshops.

Removing the Fear of Defibrillators

One of the biggest surprises for participants was learning how easy an AED is to use.

Many people believe defibrillators are only for doctors, nurses or paramedics.

In reality, they are specifically designed so that anyone can use them.

During the workshop, participants learned:

How to recognise an AED
Where to place the pads
How the machine guides you through every step
Why it will only deliver a shock if it is needed
Why you cannot accidentally harm someone by using one correctly

For many people, simply seeing and handling an AED removed years of fear and uncertainty.

Learning in a Friendly and Supportive Environment

At First Aid Saves Lives CIC, we don’t believe first aid training should feel intimidating.

Instead, we create workshops that are:

Friendly
Relaxed
Interactive
Inclusive
Practical
Enjoyable

Nobody is expected to have any previous knowledge.

Questions are encouraged.

Mistakes are part of learning.

Everyone supports each other.

This helps learners build genuine confidence rather than simply memorising information.

The Difference One Workshop Can Make

One workshop lasts just a couple of hours.

The knowledge gained could last a lifetime.

Even more importantly…

One day, it could help save somebody else’s.

Every person we train makes our communities just that little bit safer.

That is why community education is at the heart of everything we do.

More Than Just First Aid

First Aid Saves Lives CIC exists to make life-saving education accessible to everyone.

Alongside CPR and AED workshops, we also deliver sessions covering:

❤️ Basic Life Support
🩹 Emergency First Aid
🚑 Choking
🛌 Recovery Position
🩸 Severe Bleeding
👶 Family First Aid
🏫 Schools Workshops
👥 Community Group Training
🏢 Workplace Awareness Sessions

Every workshop is tailored to the audience, creating engaging, inclusive learning experiences for people of all ages and abilities.

Thank You

A huge thank you to everyone who attended the workshop and to Marsden Road Community Centre for hosting the event.

Partnerships like these help us reach more people and continue building safer, stronger communities across South Tyneside and the wider North East.

Together, we really are helping to save lives.

Could Your Organisation Benefit From a Community Workshop?

Whether you’re a:

Charity
Community Group
School
Youth Organisation
Sports Club
Faith Group
Employer
Volunteer Organisation

We’d love to help.

Our workshops can be delivered at your venue and tailored to suit your audience, helping more people gain the confidence to act in an emergency.

About First Aid Saves Lives CIC

First Aid Saves Lives CIC is a Community Interest Company dedicated to improving access to life-saving education throughout the North East.

Working alongside charities, schools, community groups and employers, we deliver engaging, practical and inclusive workshops that empower people with the confidence to respond in an emergency.

Whether you’re looking to organise a workshop for your community group, charity, school or organisation, we’d love to hear from you. You can contact us online through our Contact page or speak to our friendly team on 0191 7166601 to discuss how we can tailor a workshop to meet your needs.

We’re proud of the difference our workshops make within the communities we serve. If you’ve attended one of our sessions, we’d love to hear about your experience. You can read what others have said or leave us a Google review here: First Aid Saves Lives CIC

Because knowing what to do shouldn’t depend on your background, your income or your previous experience.

Everyone deserves the chance to learn skills that could one day save a life.