Harpenden Rovers Youth FC is proud to announce the successful installation of a state-of-the-art, solar and wind-powered Automated External Defibrillator (AED) cabinet at Katherine Warington School (KWS). This vital piece of life-saving equipment was funded entirely through the club’s “Defib on The Hill” initiative, raising nearly £5,000 through the dedicated efforts of its young players to provide the cabinet and the AED, and it was then installed by club volunteers.

While KWS already maintained an AED near its Sports Hall and a Community Accessible AED and Bleed Control Kit on its Sports Hall Gates, the school’s “top pitches” – where Harpenden Rovers Youth FC play every Saturday – were felt too far for rapid response in an emergency. With survival rates for cardiac arrest dropping by 10% for every minute delay in defibrillation, the club took proactive steps to bridge the gap.

The new cabinet is a marvel of green engineering. Because the upper pitches lack a mains electricity supply, the unit utilises a hybrid solar and wind-powered system to maintain the internal temperature of the cabinet. This ensures the AED battery and pads remain functional and ready for use even during the coldest Hertfordshire winter months.

The funding for the project was raised primarily through a sponsored “Running Up That Hill” challenge (where the hill used was the hill up to the upper pitches) undertaken by the club’s 250+ players, ranging from age 5 to 14.

“Our ethos has always been ‘Football for All,’ but player and spectator safety comes as part of that package” said Jeremy Finch, Chair of Harpenden Rovers Youth FC. “To see our players swap their football boots for trainers to protect their peers – and anyone who uses the upper pitches – makes us incredibly proud. Fundraising for something you hope is never needed had to be explained to some of our younger members!”.

The project further cements the strong partnership between Harpenden Rovers and Katherine Warington School. Harpenden Rovers have used the facilities at KWS since September 2020. As a club that has grown every year since it was founded, Harpenden Rovers relies on the school’s facilities to provide football to local youth for both training and matches. This donation serves as a “thank you” to the school and a permanent safety legacy for all those who use the school pitches.

Dean Inns, School Business Manager said “We are incredibly grateful for this generous and thoughtful donation from Harpenden Rovers Youth FC. This project is a fantastic example of the strong partnership we share, and it speaks volumes about the club’s commitment to safety for the entire community that uses our facilities. The innovative, solar and wind-powered design is a perfect solution for our upper pitches, and provides a permanent, life-saving legacy for everyone.”

Harpenden Rovers would like to extend its gratitude to the individuals whose sponsorship and donations, bolstered by Gift Aid, helped reach the fundraising target. The solar and wind-powered will be known as the “Angel of KWS” both due to its shape and purpose.