HEREFORDSHIRE Heartstart recently said goodbye to one of their most experienced and long-standing instructors.

Allan was one of the first volunteers and had been with the charity for more than 20 years. He was well known in the local community and spent many years working for the West Midlands Ambulance Service. Allan and his wife are due to move out of the Herefordshire area and the charity wishes them all the very best for the future.

Could you become a volunteer for Herefordshire Heartstart? They are a small local charity that teaches members of the public basic emergency life support skills through a free two hour course. In the UK only one in ten people survive an out of hospital cardiac arrest. The more people with the skills to attempt bystander CPR in rural communities the greater the chances of survival.

Skills learned on the courses have helped to save lives in Herefordshire. Volunteers are based throughout the county and come from all walks of life. If you have a couple of hours a week to spare and maybe have a background in teaching or first aid then volunteering for Herefordshire Heartstart could be for you.

Volunteering is simple. Contact the charity coordinator on 0845 60 60 654 or email info@herefordshireheartstart.co.uk to find out more. Further information can be found on the website herefordshireheartstart.org