Potentially life-saving bleed kits installed in the Coalfield Area

Sunderland City Council's Coalfield Area Committee has funded the bleed kits in partnership with the Connor Brown Trust set up by the parents of 18-year-old Connor Brown following his tragic death in 2019.

Tanya and Simon Brown are actively supporting the community to prevent knife crime and raising awareness of its impact. The kits were installed six years on from the fatal knife attack on Connor Brown in the city. 

The Coalfield Area Committee allocated £5,400 from its neighbourhood fund budget towards the kits.

Bleed kits could be used to give vital care and attention to a patient in those first few minutes before the emergency services arrive, potentially saving their life. These kits are part of the wider fight against knife crime across the city with over 50 installed so far by the Connor Brown Trust.

Councillor Mel Speding, Chair of Sunderland City Council's Coalfield Area Committee, said: "As a group, the Coalfield Committee aims to support and improve our communities in Houghton, Hetton, Shiney Row and Copt Hill. We were keen to provide funding for these kits which could make a big difference in an emergency.

"We appreciated the opportunity to partner with the Connor Brown Trust which does such fantastic work across Sunderland. While we hope these kits are never needed, it is reassuring to know that they are there for our residents. We are taking the necessary steps to keep our communities safe."

The Coalfield Area Committee is one of five area committees across Sunderland. Made up of local councillors, area committees provide residents with a greater say by working closely with their communities and drawing on local knowledge to identify priorities for their area. They also create Area Plans to support the City Plan, focusing on local needs. These plans help fund and deliver projects in partnership with local voluntary and community sector organisations.

This is one of 11 grants awarded by the Coalfield Area Committee since April 2024 to support community groups and voluntary organisations with various projects. These include social inclusion and wellbeing activities, Clean It, Green It, and holiday activities for children and young people. 

Tanya Brown from The Connor Brown Trust said: "If there is an incident, doing nothing means a patient has less chance of survival, but using the kit gives anyone a better chance, before paramedics get to the scene. It's important to have these bleed kits in as many places as possible simply because they could save lives.

"The kits have been designed so that little to no training is needed and they can be used by the public or a first responder to any accident where there is a catastrophic bleed. The cabinets contain easy to read instructions and illustrations for each part of equipment showing where and how to use it."

In the event of the bleed kits being needed, the 999 operators will direct the caller to the nearest mobile kit or fixed unit and give them the combination code to unlock the unit. The kits are designed for catastrophic bleeding and the caller will be guided on how to use the equipment.

The kits are now registered and ready to use if needed at:

• Colliery Inn, Hetton, DH5 9JQ
• Easington Lane Workmens Club, DH5 0JR
• Houghton Sports and Wellness Centre, DH4 5AF
• New Herrington Bowling Club, DH4 4UG
• Penshaw Community Centre, DH4 7HU
• Queensway Pharmacy, Houghton, DH5 8EL
• Shiney Resource and Advice Centre (ShARP), Shiney Row, DH4 4QW
• Springboard Adventure, Hetton Lyons Country Park, DH5 0RH
• St John's Methodist Church, Fencehouses, DH4 6HN
• St Matthews Youth and Community Centre, Newbottle, DH5 8EL

For more information about other kits across the city, visit: Connor Brown Trust