Help Bristol find homes for 27 fully funded lifesaving defibs
August 28, 2025
If you’ve checked where your nearest public access defibrillator is and found it’s not as close as you’d like, you might be wondering where one could go. To help, we’ve put together a list of nine practical locations to give you ideas and help your community be ready if someone has a cardiac arrest.
From familiar community hubs to less obvious spots, these ideas highlight where a defibrillator could save lives in an emergency:
1. Your local pub or bar
Most people know where their local is, they’re often open late and are at the heart of many neighbourhoods. Ask your landlord if they’d consider hosting one outside.
The Nut Tree, Weston-super-Mare
2. Cafés and coffee shops
These are busy daytime spots where people meet, socialise and work. Next time you grab a coffee, chat to the manager about it.
The Downs Café, Bristol
3. Churches and places of worship
Usually open to the public, these welcoming spaces are used throughout the week by diverse groups. Approach your faith leader or church committee to see if they’ll support it.
Mount of Olives Church, Coleford
Easton Jamia Masjid Mosque, Bristol
4. Village halls and community centres
Places like this are regularly booked for classes, clubs, and events, and so have lots of footfall. Ask them to bring it up at the next community meeting.
Malcolm X Community Centre, Bristol
5. Shops, supermarkets and corner stores
These are essential locations people visit daily, so they are usually nearby and often with long opening hours. Ask the store manager if they’d host one on the wall outside.
Great Western Air Ambulance Charity Shop, Cheltenham
6. Libraries
Usually centrally located, these trusted spaces are open to everyone and easily accessible. Speak to library staff about applying for a defib.
The Old Library, Eastville, Bristol
7. Sports clubs and leisure centres
From football pitches to gyms, these locations bring together people of all ages and activity levels. Check with the committee or owner about protecting members with a defib.
Dings Crusaders RFC, Bristol
Bishop Sutton Tennis Club
8. Workplaces and offices
Anywhere people spend much of their day, from offices and shops to factories or warehouses. A defibrillator can protect staff, visitors and customers. Encourage your employer to apply for one for the building
Freewheelers EVS HQ, Bristol
9. Schools, colleges and nurseries
Education settings are busy all week and serve both young people and staff, as well as parents during busy drop-offs and pick-ups. Raise it with the headteacher, PTA or nursery manager.
Bristol College
Wherever you place a defib, it could save lives. And if you are looking for a location in Bristol, remember up to 27 fully funded defibrillators are available until the end of October — apply today and help protect your community.
Bonus: 7 unusual but brilliant defibrillator spots
Sometimes the best places for a defibrillator aren’t the obvious ones. They’re spots where people are active, away from buildings, or in areas with limited access to immediate help. Every community can benefit from having a defibrillator nearby.
Below are seven unusual but practical suggestions for where a defibrillator could be placed in your community:
- Dog-walking hotspots or cycle and running trails: Many people use areas like parks, woods or riverside paths daily, often alone or with limited access to nearby buildings.
- Taxi ranks or bus stations: These can be high-traffic waiting spots where emergencies can happen any time of the day or night.
- Community laundrettes: People can spend time indoors waiting and there may not be a defib nearby.
- Marinas, docks and waterfronts: Cardiac arrests can happen near water and emergency access can be tricky.
- Car parks at shopping centres or other places: Often overlooked, yet these are busy locations and open to the public.
- Allotments or community gardens: Often tucked away, these spots can be very remote from roads or main buildings.
- Halfway points on golf courses: Players can be far from the clubhouse; a defib at halfway shelters could save crucial minutes.
These are just some examples. Think about where people gather or are active in your community, especially places far from buildings or immediate help. Every additional defibrillator can make a lifesaving difference!
