Community Defibs for Rossendale – Our Story
A Timeline of Community Lifesaving in the Rossendale Valley
2010 – The Beginning
Community Defibs for Rossendale (CDfR) was established in 2010 after Dawn Taylor BEM recognised the urgent need for more publicly accessible defibrillators across the Rossendale Valley. Through her work attending emergency incidents within the community, Dawn saw first-hand how vital early defibrillation can be in cases of sudden cardiac arrest.
With this vision, Dawn Taylor BEM, together with Brian Pickup and Andrew Walmsley, founded Community Defibs for Rossendale. Their aim was simple but lifesaving: to increase the availability of Community Public Access Defibrillators (CPADs) and ensure that local people had the knowledge and confidence to use them in an emergency.
Working closely with Rossendale Community First Responders and supported by local residents, businesses and community organisations, the group began building a network of lifesaving equipment across the valley.
2010–2011 – The First CPAD
One of the group’s first major achievements was installing the first Community Public Access Defibrillator (CPAD) in the Rossendale Valley.
- The first unit was installed on Bank Street in Rawtenstall town centre.
- It became one of, if not the earliest publicly accessible defibrillators in the North West.
This installation marked the start of a wider initiative to make lifesaving equipment accessible across Rossendale.
Early Community Champions
From the outset, the success of the initiative relied heavily on dedicated volunteers and community champions.
Key early contributors included:
- Dawn Taylor BEM – founder, trainer and long-standing advocate for community CPR and defibrillator awareness.
- Brian Pickup – co-founder and active supporter in community outreach and awareness work.
- Andrew Walmsley – co-founder who helped establish and develop the network of community defibrillators.
Through presentations at community groups, neighbourhood forums and public events, they helped raise awareness of the importance of early CPR and defibrillation.
2012–2015 – Growing the Network
As awareness increased, more communities across Rossendale began fundraising for their own defibrillators.
Community groups, churches, businesses and local organisations worked alongside CDfR to bring CPADs to towns and villages throughout the valley. Each installation strengthened the emergency response network and increased the chances of survival from sudden cardiac arrest.
Alongside installations, the group also began delivering:
- CPR awareness sessions
- Defibrillator familiarisation training
- Community safety demonstrations
These initiatives helped residents gain the confidence to act in an emergency.
2016–2020 – Training and Awareness
The organisation expanded its focus to include more public education and training.
Working closely with Rossendale Community First Responders and North West Ambulance Service, volunteers delivered:
- CPR awareness sessions
- AED familiarisation training
- demonstrations at community events and schools
The aim was to ensure that more people in Rossendale had the knowledge and confidence to step forward during a cardiac emergency.
2020–Present – Expanding a Lifesaving Network
Over the years the number of publicly accessible defibrillators across Rossendale has continued to grow through community fundraising and local partnerships.
Today, the valley benefits from a large and expanding network of publicly accessible defibrillators, ensuring that lifesaving equipment is available in many towns, villages and community locations.
Today – A Community Effort
Community Defibs for Rossendale continues to operate as a volunteer-led initiative, working alongside Rossendale Community First Responders and the wider community.
The organisation focuses on three key areas:
- Installing and maintaining Community Public Access Defibrillators (CPADs)
- Delivering CPR and AED awareness training
- Supporting communities to fundraise for lifesaving equipment
Every defibrillator installed represents the dedication of local volunteers and the generosity of the Rossendale community.
Our mission remains the same as when the group was founded:
To ensure that wherever cardiac arrest occurs in Rossendale, a defibrillator and someone confident to use it are never far away.