About

Heartstart Cowal is a volunteer-run, non-profit organisation dedicated to helping save lives across the Cowal Peninsula on Scotland’s west coast. Our goal is simple but vital: to give people the knowledge and confidence to act quickly in a cardiac emergency.

Many parts of Cowal are rural and remote, which can mean emergency services take longer to reach someone in need. In those critical first minutes, the actions of people nearby can make the difference between life and death. That’s why the skills we teach are so important for our communities.

Our volunteers run friendly, practical training sessions that teach essential life-saving skills, including how to perform CPR and how to use an automated external defibrillator (AED). Defibrillators are increasingly available in public places across the peninsula, and knowing how to use one correctly can dramatically increase someone’s chances of survival during cardiac arrest.

Heartstart Cowal believes that anyone can learn these skills. You don’t need a medical background—just a willingness to learn. Our classes are open to people of all ages and abilities, from school pupils to community groups and local businesses.

By helping more people in Cowal learn CPR and defibrillator use, we are building a stronger, safer community where more lives can be saved.