Lifesaving Restart a Heart campaign scoops prestigious award

A Yorkshire Ambulance Service campaign which teaches schoolchildren how to become lifesavers has won a top accolade at the Yorkshire Choice Awards.

The initiative, which has provided CPR training to 151,000 Yorkshire students on Restart a Heart Day since 2014, received a Special Recognition Award at the online event.

Journalist and broadcaster Christa Ackroyd, who announced the award winners, said the recent high-profile resuscitation of Danish footballer Christian Eriksen highlighted the importance of the campaign.

She said: “Christian Eriksen is now well due to the incredible life-saving actions taken on the field and that is what Yorkshire Ambulance Service aims to teach which they have done with amazing success. Keep up the good work of teaching these skills that we should all learn.”

Jason Carlyon, Community Engagement Manager for Yorkshire Ambulance Service, said: “We are so thrilled to win this award! We know the campaign has directly influenced the patient outcomes and we know of lives saved as a result – we can’t ask more than that.

“Thank you to the project team, volunteers, partner organisations, Yorkshire Ambulance Service Charity and, of course, all the schools and students for supporting this vital campaign. Together we are improving chances of survival.”

More than 700 staff and volunteers are looking forward to returning to schools for face-to-face CPR training on Restart a Heart Day on Friday 15 October 2021 after the COVID-19 pandemic meant the lessons had to be online last year.

The 114 participating schools are:

West Yorkshire - 43

Airedale Academy, Castleford
Brigshaw High School, Allerton Bywater
Honley High School, Honley        
Castleford Academy, Castleford
Outwood Academy, Hemsworth
Heckmondwike Grammar School, Heckmondwike
Upper Batley High School, Batley            
Garforth Academy, Garforth
Bruntcliffe Academy, Morley         
Lawnswood School, Leeds
Leeds City Academy, Leeds         
Cardinal Heenan Catholic High School, Leeds 
Crawshaw Academy, Pudsey, Leeds
Rida Girls High School, Dewsbury          
Rida Boys High School, Dewsbury          
Manorcroft Academy, Dewsbury
St John Fisher Catholic Voluntary Academy, Dewsbury         
The Brooksbank School, Elland   
Jaamiatul Imaam Muhammad Zakaria, Clayton
Holmfirth High School, Thongsbridge, Holmfirth
Coop Academy Grange, Bradford
Trinity Academy Bradford, Bradford        
Brighouse High School, Brighouse
Highfield School, Ossett    
Ossett Academy, Ossett
Pudsey Grangefield School, Pudsey, Leeds
The Farnley Academy, Leeds       
Temple Moor High School, Field End Grove, Leeds
Temple Learning Academy, Leeds 
Abbey Grange C of E Academy, Leeds
Prince Henry's Grammar School, Otley  
Bingley Grammar School, Bingley           
The Crossley Heath School, Halifax       
Ryburn Valley High School, Sowerby Bridge, Halifax 
The Halifax Academy, Halifax      
North Halifax Grammar School, Illingworth, Halifax     
Kirklees College, Huddersfield     
Shelley College, Huddersfield      
North Huddersfield Trust School, Huddersfield 
Crofton Academy, Crofton, Wakefield     
Outwood Grange Academy, Wakefield   
Outwood Academy City Fields, Wakefield
Woodkirk Academy, Tingley         

East Yorkshire - 13

Driffield School, Driffield
Riverside School, Goole    
Howden School, Howden 
Beverley Grammar School, Beverley
Wolfreton School and Sixth Form College, Willerby     
Hessle High School, Hessle         
Wilberforce College, Hull  
Hymers College, Hull 
St Mary's College, Hull      
Wyke Sixth Form College, Hull
Oakfield School, Hull         
Sirius Academy West, Hull
Headlands School, Bridlington

North Yorkshire - 34

Settle College, Settle          
Ripon Grammar School, Ripon    
Barlby High School, Barlby
Norton College, Norton      
Huntington School, York    
York High School, York      
Queen Ethelburga's Collegiate, York      
Archbishop Holgate's School, York         
Fulford School, York           
Cundall Manor School, York
All Saint's RC School, York
Outwood Academy, Easingwold, York
Selby High School, Selby  
King James School, Knaresborough      
Sherburn High School, Sherburn in Elmet
Tadcaster Grammar School, Tadcaster
Queen Mary’s School, Topcliffe, Thirsk
Thirsk School & Sixth Form College, Thirsk 
The Wensleydale School and Sixth Form, Leyburn     
The Skipton Academy, Skipton    
Skipton Girls' High School, Skipton         
Upper Wharfedale, Skipton           
Bedale High School, Bedale         
Richmond School, Richmond (hosting their own event on 11 October)
St Francis Xavier, Richmond
The Holy Family Catholic High School, Carlton
Stokesley School, Stokesley
Northallerton School, Northallerton
Scarborough College, Scarborough
Scalby School, Scarborough
Scarborough Sixth Form College, Scarborough
Scarborough University Technical College, Scarborough
Harrogate High School, Harrogate
Eskdale School, Whitby

South Yorkshire - 23

Holy Trinity Academy, Barnsley   
Outwood Academy Shafton, Barnsley    
Maple Medical PRU, Balby, Doncaster   
Serlby Park Academy, Doncaster
Outwood Academy Adwick, Doncaster   
Don Valley Academy, Doncaster
Oakwood High School, Rotherham         
Wingfield Academy, Rotherham   
Saint Pius X Catholic High School, Rotherham  
Thrybergh Academy, Rotherham
Al-Mahad Al-Islami, Sheffield       
Tapton School, Sheffield   
UTC Sheffield City, Sheffield        
Westfield School, Sheffield
Notre Dame High School, Sheffield        
Stocksbridge High School, Sheffield       
Outwood Academy City, Sheffield 
Firth Park Academy, Sheffield     
The Birley Academy, Sheffield
Bradfield School, Sheffield
Hinde House School, Sheffield
Dinnington High School, Sheffield
Ecclesfield School, Ecclesfield

For more information about Restart a Heart Day, visit www.restartaheart.yas.nhs.uk