Hoddesdon Town FC Overwhelmed by Community Support After Defibrillator Appeal

Just one day after we published our story about the missing defibrillator at Lowfield, the response from the local community has been nothing short of incredible. Within 12 hours, our club’s heartfelt plea was shared more than 150 times across social media, and we received dozens of messages of support, solidarity, and outrage from residents, supporters, and community figures alike.

What began as a deeply frustrating and upsetting situation for everyone involved with Hoddesdon Town Football Club has now been transformed into something far more positive — a powerful example of how our community can rally together in times of need.

An Outpouring of Support

We have been truly humbled by the scale of the response. Since yesterday afternoon, we’ve had well over a hundred people share our article, and countless others contact us directly to offer kind words, practical advice, and even offers of financial help towards the cost of replacing the defibrillator that was taken and never returned. From local businesses to private individuals, people from all walks of life have stepped forward, united by a shared belief in the importance of keeping life-saving equipment accessible to all.

We cannot thank everyone enough for the compassion and generosity shown. To see our town come together like this reminds us exactly why Hoddesdon is such a special place — full of people who care deeply about one another.

Local MP Lewis Cocking Reaches Out

We were also contacted by our local MP, Lewis Cocking, who has long been a campaigner in Parliament for better provision and maintenance of public defibrillators across the country.

Mr Cocking offered his support and assistance, recognising both the seriousness of our situation and the wider issue it highlights — that local sports clubs and community venues should not be left without access to essential, potentially life-saving equipment.

We are extremely grateful for his concern and his willingness to get involved. His advocacy for improved access to defibrillators has been consistent and passionate, and we’re glad to have his voice added to those calling for accountability and positive change.

You can watch a video of the MP for Broxbourne make a speech to his colleagues on the impact of Hoddesdon-based charity Hearts for Herts on the accessibility of lifesaving equipment in Hertfordshire.

But who are Hearts For Herts?

The most extraordinary development of all came less than a couple of hours after our article went live. We were contacted by a local Hoddesdon-based charity called ‘Hearts for Herts’. Their chair, Justin Honey-Jones, had seen our story and decided to take immediate action.

Hearts for Herts’ mission is clear and inspiring:

“To provide an inclusive education programme of lifesaving skills and champion the provision of public access lifesaving equipment to our communities across Hertfordshire, because every heart matters.”

Those words — because every heart matters — could not be more fitting in this moment.

Justin and his team understood exactly how crucial it is for a community hub like Lowfield to have access to a defibrillator. Without hesitation, they arrived at the ground this afternoon to donate a brand new defibrillator and a bleed control kit — completely free of charge.

Their swift response, kindness, and generosity left us utterly bowled over.

About Hearts for Herts and Its Founder

The story behind Hearts for Herts and its founder, Justin Honey-Jones, is as inspiring as their actions this week.

Justin founded the charity in 2017, after responding to a 999 call as a Paramedic in a public place where a defibrillator was available — but tragically, no one present knew how to use it or how to perform CPR. Despite everyone’s best intentions, the resuscitation attempt was unsuccessful. That experience changed him. Determined that such a situation should never happen again, he created Hearts for Herts to make sure that more people have the confidence, knowledge, and access needed to save lives in their own communities.

As Justin says, “Every heart matters.”

His medical and educational background is remarkable. He first learnt and taught first aid as a cadet with the Army Cadet Force, qualifying as a British Heart Foundation Heartstart Trainer at the age of just 19 — an early step that inspired both his medical and teaching careers. He went on to serve as a Combat Medical Technician with the British Army Reserves, before joining the London Ambulance Service NHS Trust in 2014 as an Emergency Medical Technician. Later, he qualified as a Paramedic, before moving into education.

Today, Justin is a Specialist Lecturer Practitioner (Paramedic) with the East of England Ambulance Service NHS Trust, as well as an Associate Lecturer in Paramedic Science and Medical and Healthcare Education at Anglia Ruskin University. He is also passionate about inclusive education and openly speaks about living and working with a hidden disability. Earlier this year, he graduated from the Calibre Leadership Programme for Disabled Leaders, demonstrating his ongoing commitment to advocacy and empowerment.

Outside his professional work, Justin volunteers as a Magistrate with His Majesty’s Court and Tribunal Service, and supports both St John's Ambulance and the UK Resuscitation Council — a truly selfless individual dedicated to helping others.

His leadership has made Hearts for Herts one of the most active and compassionate charities of its kind in our region.

For more information about their work, you can visit their website by clicking HERE.
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A Remarkable Act of Generosity

When Justin and his team arrived at Lowfield, they came not just with the equipment, but with kindness, reassurance, and a shared belief in the importance of community support. Within moments, we once again had a defibrillator available at our ground, ensuring that every player, spectator, and visitor to Lowfield can feel safer knowing that help is close at hand should the worst ever happen. The addition of a bleed control kit further enhances our ability to respond to emergencies, making Lowfield one of the best-prepared community sports venues in the area once again.

We are truly indebted to Justin and everyone at Hearts for Herts for acting so quickly, compassionately, and decisively. Their actions have quite literally restored our ability to save lives.

Club President Roger Merton expressed his gratitude on behalf of everyone at Hoddesdon Town Football Club:

“We have been absolutely overwhelmed by the response from our community over the last 24 hours. The messages, the offers of help, and the incredible act of generosity from Hearts for Herts have reminded us all what community spirit truly means.

On behalf of the club, I want to thank Justin Honey-Jones and his team from the bottom of our hearts for stepping in so quickly to help us. Their donation of a new defibrillator and bleed kit is simply amazing, and we are proud to be associated with such a wonderful organisation.

I also want to thank our supporters, local residents, and everyone who shared our story or reached out. Your support made a huge difference, and it shows that together, we can achieve great things. We can now provide life-saving equipment once again for all who frequent Lowfield, as well as for the wider community.”

Roger’s words reflect the gratitude felt across every corner of our club. From the committee and volunteers to the players and fans — we all feel deeply moved by the kindness shown.

Spreading Awareness and Saving Lives

While this story has a happy ending, it also serves as an important reminder that defibrillators save lives — but only if people know how to access and use them.

If you ever find yourself in an emergency where someone may be suffering a cardiac arrest, call 999 immediately and ask for an ambulance. The emergency operator can direct you to the nearest public defibrillator and, if it’s stored in a locked cabinet, they can provide you with the access code. While you’re waiting for help to arrive, perform CPR — push hard and fast in the centre of the chest, to the beat of a song like Stayin’ Alive by the Bee Gees — and, if possible, send another person to retrieve the defibrillator. Every second counts.

Remember: even if you’ve never used a defibrillator before, they are designed to talk you through each step. You cannot make things worse by trying — but you can save someone’s life by taking action.

Looking Ahead

Thanks to Hearts for Herts, Lowfield is now once again a safer place for everyone who uses it — from footballers and cricketers to supporters, dog walkers, and local residents.

We are eager to continue working with Justin and his team to support their mission of educating communities, increasing awareness, and promoting access to life-saving equipment throughout Hertfordshire. As a club, we remain passionate about community safety and wellbeing, and this experience has reinforced just how vital it is to have strong connections between local organisations, charities, and emergency services.

Our Thanks to the Community

Once again, from everyone at Hoddesdon Town Football Club — thank you. To everyone who shared our post, sent a message, offered help, or simply showed they cared, you have our deepest gratitude. Your collective response made this happen.

To Hearts for Herts and Justin Honey-Jones, you have our eternal thanks for your compassion, speed, and generosity. You’ve not only replaced a piece of equipment — you’ve restored our peace of mind, our confidence, and our ability to protect lives at Lowfield.

Because, as Justin so rightly says — every heart matters.