We’re so excited to find out Heartstart Lymm CIC is now part of the @Coopuk Local Community Fund.
Heartstart Lymm is led by a small, committed group of volunteers who bring a wealth of experience from healthcare, emergency response, and community service. Our leadership team ensures that our training sessions are high-quality, inclusive, and rooted in best practice.
Sandy Thomson – Lead Trainer & Trustee
Sandy is one of the founding members of Heartstart Lymm CIC and plays a vital role in both delivering and developing our training programmes. With a background as a Community First Responder, Sandy brings practical frontline experience to every session. His calm, friendly approach helps put learners at ease while ensuring they leave feeling confident and capable.
Graham Gowland – Trustee & Trainer
Graham is an experienced professional with a strong background in community engagement and emergency services. As a trustee, he plays a key role in shaping the strategic direction of Heartstart Lymm, ensuring we meet our objectives while fostering partnerships and community outreach.
Tracy Gowland – Trustee
Tracy’s expertise lies in organisational management and community development. As a trustee, she ensures that Heartstart Lymm’s operations are efficient and aligned with our mission of providing accessible first aid training. Tracy’s commitment to safeguarding and volunteer development is integral to the smooth running of our training sessions.
Our work is overseen by a board of trustees, who guide the strategic direction of the organisation. The trustees come from a range of professional backgrounds—including healthcare, youth work, education, and local government—and ensure we stay focused on our charitable purpose.
The trustees are responsible for:
Ensuring high standards in course delivery
Managing partnerships and funding
Overseeing safeguarding and volunteer development
Making training accessible to everyone in the community
Our sessions are led by a team of qualified volunteer trainers, many of whom are:
Community First Responders (CFRs)
First Aid qualified
Scout and youth leaders
Health professionals
Each trainer undertakes regular CPD (Continuing Professional Development) and ensures our content reflects current Resuscitation Council UK and Royal Life Saving Society guidelines.
At Heartstart Lymm, our team culture is rooted in community spirit, compassion, and shared purpose. We are a friendly, welcoming group of volunteers who are passionate about making a difference. Whether we're running training sessions, preparing equipment, or planning new outreach, we work collaboratively and supportively—always with a smile.
We value reliability, respect, and continuous learning, and we encourage each other to bring ideas forward and grow in our roles. Many of our team members balance their involvement with busy lives, so we prioritise flexibility and mutual support. Above all, we’re united by a belief that teaching first aid can save lives, and that’s what drives everything we do.
One of the driving forces behind this initiative is Graham, a former Community First Responder for North West Ambulance Service (NWAS) who founded the Lymm CFR scheme. As Project Coordinator, Graham played a pivotal role in establishing Heartstart Lymm in partnership with the British Heart Foundation. Under his leadership, the charity has trained hundreds of local residents and helped install numerous public-access defibrillators across the area, significantly improving Lymm’s emergency readiness.
Now retired from frontline response, Graham continues to serve the community through his leadership at Heartstart Lymm, as a local councillor, and as a director at Warrington’s Own Buses—reflecting his deep and ongoing commitment to public service.
Dr. Sandy is a practicing medical doctor and Community First Responder with a strong commitment to public health and emergency care. As one of the founding members of Heartstart Lymm CIC, he plays a vital role in both delivering and shaping our training sessions.
Sandy’s frontline medical experience brings depth and realism to the training, making it practical, confidence-boosting, and directly relevant to real-life emergencies. His calm, clear teaching style puts participants at ease, empowering them with life-saving skills they can trust when it matters most.
Tracy Gowland brings energy and organizational expertise to Heartstart Lymm. With a strong background in retail and community engagement, she plays a vital role in the day-to-day operations and outreach efforts of the organization. As a founding director of the Heartstart Lymm Community Interest Company, Tracy ensures that the initiative remains responsive to the needs of the local community, helping deliver effective and accessible first aid training.
Tracy is currently completing her own first aid training, further strengthening her hands-on involvement and commitment to the charity’s mission. Her growing skill set, combined with her passion for service, makes her an invaluable part of the Heartstart Lymm team.
Bea Gowland is a Course Assistant with Heartstart Lymm, bringing energy, enthusiasm, and a growing skill set to the team. A student at Lymm High School, Bea supports training sessions by helping set up, guide participants, and assist with demonstrations.
Despite her young age, Bea has already developed valuable leadership experience as a Junior Leader with the Scouts. Her positive attitude and willingness to learn make her a fantastic asset to the team, and a great example of youth engagement in community service.
Kate Thomson is a dedicated Course Assistant at Heartstart Lymm, with several years of experience supporting training sessions. She began volunteering while a student at Lymm High School and has continued to contribute during university holidays.
Now an undergraduate at Durham University, Kate brings reliability, enthusiasm, and a calm presence to every session. Her long-standing commitment to the charity reflects a strong sense of community and a passion for helping others gain essential, life-saving skills.
Mary Trotter is an honorary member of the Heartstart Lymm team and a much-valued part of the participant experience. Although she officially volunteers as a Ranger at Safety Central, Mary plays a key role in welcoming attendees and leading the pre-course tour of the centre.
Her friendly, engaging approach helps set a positive tone for the training sessions, and her deep knowledge of the facility ensures everyone feels informed and at ease. Mary’s support and enthusiasm are greatly appreciated by both the team and course participants alike.
We’re looking for friendly, community-minded volunteers to help support Heartstart Lymm. Whether you can attend a course to take a few photos, help send out press releases, keep our website updated, or deliver basic first aid training (mainly to youth groups like Guides and Scouts), we’d love to hear from you. You don’t need experience in all these areas—just a willingness to get involved and help us make a difference. Training and support will be provided.
