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9.
January
2018.
Double boost for not-for-profit firm teaching kids life-saving skills
 PRESS RELEASE

 

Double boost for not-for-profit firm teaching kids life-saving skills

It’s been a whirlwind few months for Hull not-for-profit company Lessons 4 Life, which aims to teach every school pupil in the city first aid in a one-day lesson designed to give them the vital skills needed to respond in an emergency.

In September the organisation, which was formed earlier this year, won support worth more than £20,000 in the ‘Business Booster’ competition hosted by Hull and East Riding law firm James Legal. The prize gave them access to expertise in IT, design, PR and marketing, leadership development, accountancy and legal help, basically everything they could possibly need to help their fledgling business really take off.

Then came the good news that Lessons 4 Life had successfully bagged a One-Stop Shop grant worth £2,000 to help fund their work. Co-founder Allison Middlemas said: “We couldn’t quite believe our luck at winning two amazing awards back to back. The James Legal prize gave us invaluable support including a new website, a review of our IT systems and accounts advice, which all helps make sure we are in excellent operating condition as a business.

“The grant funding really is a massive boost because ultimately it means more schools will be able to benefit from the service we are offering. We were absolutely over the moon to be chosen as winners in both cases.”

And the Lessons 4 Life service is not only unique but absolutely free for any schools in East Yorkshire that would like to give their pupils a chance to learn how to deal with emergencies. Former paramedic Allison and her colleague, co-founder Emma Devonshire, spend one school day with up to 70 pupils teaching them a number of essential life-skills including making 999 calls; using a defibrillator; the recovery position; wounds and bleeding; CPR; and dealing with thoughts and feelings at the scene of an accident.

“We believe every child should be taught first aid lifesaving skills, and by teaching children in Hull these skills we aim to create an unprecedented level of first aiders who have the practical knowledge needed to manage emergency situations for family, friends and members of the community,” added Allison. “Pupils who are confident in first aid grow into adults and parents who are able to give life-saving treatment to prevent unnecessary deaths.”

So far for 2018 the Lessons 4 Life team are booked to deliver sessions at a number of Hull primary schools but they also have their sights set on giving more intensive training to secondary school pupils.

“The primary school children we’ve worked with have been incredibly interested and focused, they’re bursting with questions and want to learn as much as possible. The defibrillator and CPR elements of the training are very hands-on and the kids clearly enjoy it,” said Allison. “We’d like to work with older pupils too and hope some of the area’s secondary schools will come on board with our mission.”

The training is designed to link to the national curriculum subjects of maths, English and science, and everyone receives a certificate of participation at the end of the day.

Schools have a limited budget to spend on subjects that are not part of the national curriculum, which means most children never get to learn first aid basics in the classroom. Lessons 4 Life aims to fill this gap by offering its free training, funded through grants, sponsorship and donations. The team are also able to provide ‘first aid at work’ training to companies for a fee, to help raise funds for their work with schools.

James Legal Solicitor and MD Nick Miller said: “It’s amazing to see Lessons4Life flourishing as it is.

“This is exactly what our James Legal – The Business 2017 campaign was all about and hopefully winning the Business Booster prize gave them just the start they needed to bring their fantastic and worthwhile concept to fruition.


“We look forward to continuing to work alongside our campaign partners to support them as they grow and flourish in the months and years ahead.”

To find out more about Lessons 4 Life training, email info@lessons4lifetraining.co.uk or ring Allison Middlemas on 07548 195021.

ENDS

Photos: From left, Emma Devonshire and Allison Middlemas;  Alison with Eric Ikuzwe (kneeling) and Elliot Middlemas (mock casualty)

For further information, and to arrange photographs or further interviews, please contact Tracy Fletcher of By Tracy Fletcher Limited PR, on 07983 633385 or via bytracyfletcher@gmail.com