Well, here we are in 2026 and zooming towards the end of January, and I must start with an apology—2025 was such a whirlwind year that I’m only just getting around to writing this review! From celebrating our tenth anniversary to contributing to international guidelines, expanding our regional meetups to reviving the 5* Life After Cardiac Arrest podcast, it’s been an extraordinary twelve months. As always, I want to start with a heartfelt thanks to everyone who has been part of our community this year. Your stories, your support, and your unwavering dedication keep us going.
10 Years Together: A Decade of Survivorship
The highlight of 2025 was undoubtedly our 10 Years Together conference at the Hinckley Island Hotel on 17th May. What began with thirteen survivors and co-survivors meeting in a London pub in 2015 has grown into probably the world’s largest national cardiac arrest survivorship organisation, with two support groups and over 4,000 members.
The conference brought together survivors, co-survivors, and healthcare professionals for a day of celebration, education, and connection. We were also delighted to have in attendance the local MP, Dr Luke Evans, and the Chair of the European Resuscitation Council, Dr Federico Semeraro. We heard from remarkable speakers, attended informative sessions, and made connections galore. The feedback was overwhelming:
“So uplifting to be surrounded by people who relate, empathise and understand.”
“The peer support that occurred in the co-survivors room was amazing to be part of. I think a lot of people left that room with hope and some strategies.”
“[the] opportunity to be with other people, who understand what we have been through, was extremely special”.
“[I] absolutely love these meet-ups, crucial to my healing process. Great to catch up with others who have experienced the same. There aren’t many other people I see or speak to on a day-to-day basis who ‘get it’ but most others here do.”
The conference featured dedicated tracks for survivors, co-survivors, and healthcare professionals, as well as the opportunity to learn CPR with Heartwize. For many, it was their first time meeting another person who truly understood their experience—and that remains the most powerful gift we can offer.
Look out for future posts about our next conference, which will be at the same location in Hinckley on 15th May 2027.
Shaping International Guidelines
2025 marked a significant milestone in our advocacy work. The European Resuscitation Council (ERC) 2025 Guidelines were published, and a number of SCA UK members contributed to four chapters: Advanced Life Support – Gareth Cole; Paediatrics – Josephine Henderson; Ethics in Resuscitation and the Post-Resuscitation Care – both me.
Including survivors’ and co-survivors’ voices in these influential documents represents a profound shift in how the medical community approaches cardiac arrest care—it’s no longer just about saving lives, but about what happens next.
ERC Congress Rotterdam 2025
In October, we were proud to be represented at the European Resuscitation Council Congress in Rotterdam, where the ERC 2025 Guidelines were formally presented to the international resuscitation community. This marked a significant milestone in our advocacy journey—seeing survivor voices not just heard, but embedded within the official guidance that will shape cardiac arrest care across Europe.
The congress brought together over 3,000 resuscitation professionals, researchers, and stakeholders from across the continent. For SCA UK, it was an opportunity to witness firsthand how our contributions were received by the medical community.
The atmosphere was one of genuine progress. Presentations throughout the congress acknowledged what our community has long known: survival doesn’t end when the heart restarts. The psychological impacts, cognitive challenges, and rehabilitation needs that follow cardiac arrest are now recognised as integral components of quality care—not afterthoughts.
We had valuable conversations with clinicians, researchers, and fellow patient advocacy groups from across Europe, sharing insights about peer support models and post-discharge pathways. These connections strengthen our collective voice and reinforce the priority of survivorship care, not a postscript.
Attending the ERC Congress in Rotterdam wasn’t just about celebrating our contribution to the guidelines—it was about ensuring the survivor perspective remains central to future developments in resuscitation science.
RCUK Conference Birmingham
In November, we returned to the Resuscitation Council UK Conference in Birmingham, an event that has become a key fixture in our calendar. The RCUK Conference brings together the UK’s resuscitation community—from ambulance services and emergency departments to community responders and researchers—and for SCA UK, it’s an invaluable opportunity to advocate for survivorship at the heart of where policy and practice are shaped.
The conference featured compelling sessions on the latest advances in cardiac arrest care, including discussions on the newly published ERC 2025 Guidelines, innovations in bystander CPR training, and crucially, the implementation of quality standards for post-resuscitation care—a topic very close to our hearts.
We were particularly encouraged by sessions addressing the psychological impact of cardiac arrest on both survivors and bystanders. The growing recognition that cardiac arrest creates a ripple effect—touching survivors, families, and responders alike—signals a welcome shift in how the resuscitation community approaches aftercare.
Throughout the conference, we connected with clinicians, paramedics, and researchers who are championing the integration of peer support into discharge pathways. Several cardiac centres expressed interest in our Bridging the Gap initiative, and we left with concrete commitments to expand the distribution of our Effective Peer Support leaflets to additional hospitals across the UK.
The networking opportunities were invaluable. Conversations in the exhibition hall and over coffee breaks often prove as impactful as the formal sessions—these are the moments where partnerships are forged, and ideas are shared. As always, attending the RCUK Conference reinforced our belief that change happens when survivors are at the table, not just the topic of conversation.
Regional Meetups: Peer Support Nationwide
One of the most exciting developments in 2025 was the dramatic expansion of our regional meetup programme, led by trustee Stuart Menzies. In October alone, 14 meetup locations opened their doors across the country, with 112 people attending—66 survivors and 46 co-survivors.
The power of face-to-face peer support cannot be overstated. As one organiser noted, for some survivors, these meetups represent their first encounter with another person who has experienced cardiac arrest—even years into their recovery. That moment of connection can be transformative.
From London’s Mulberry Bush (the spiritual home of SCA UK) to Birmingham, Glasgow, Bath, Gloucester, Cambridge, Weymouth, and beyond, our volunteer organisers have created spaces where people can simply be understood. It’s not therapy—it’s community. It’s knowing you’re not alone.
“Meeting survivors and co-survivors is cathartic. It’s the best sort of therapy you can have.”
The Life After Cardiac Arrest Podcast Returns
After a hiatus, I revived the Life After Cardiac Arrest podcast in 2025, and what a year of conversations it’s been! We explored vital topics through the voices of those who live them:
- Championing Co-Survivors with Kristin “Lady Glaucomflecken” Flanary—a powerful discussion about those whose lives are changed when a loved one experiences cardiac arrest
- Speech and Language After Cardiac Arrest with Jeanne Reilly, a survivor and speech therapist who offers unique insights into communication challenges
- The CARESSf Project with Dr Nathan Pearson—exploring a groundbreaking rehabilitation programme for survivors and caregivers
- RESCQ Project with Dr Uzma Sajjad—supporting the “forgotten patients” who witness cardiac arrests
- Never the Same Man with Richard Moore—healing through poetry and creative expression
The podcast remains available on Apple, Spotify, and all major platforms. If you haven’t subscribed yet, please do—and if you find it valuable, leave a review to help others discover it.
SCA UK Live: A New Way to Connect
In the second half of 2025, trustees Gareth Cole and Joanna Balgarnie launched SCA UK Live—a new YouTube live-streaming series that has quickly become a vibrant space for our community to connect, share, and learn together in real time.
The series streams monthly, bringing survivors, co-survivors, and healthcare professionals together for interactive discussions on topics that matter most to our community. From managing fatigue and cognitive challenges to navigating relationships after cardiac arrest, SCA UK Live tackles the subjects that often don’t make it into standard medical consultations but profoundly impact daily life.
Gareth and Joanna have proven to be natural hosts—warm, knowledgeable, and skilled at creating a safe space where people feel comfortable sharing. Their dedication to producing regular, quality content while managing their own busy lives is nothing short of inspiring.
Subscribe to our YouTube channel and turn on notifications so you never miss a session.
Raising Our Profile
In 2025, SCA UK took our message to the emergency services community through two major industry events.
The Emergency Services Show at NEC Birmingham in September saw us volunteering over two days at the Collaboration Zone—the heart of the show where charities, voluntary organisations and emergency services connect. With over 12,000 visitors and 500+ exhibitors from police, fire, ambulance, and search & rescue services, ESS gave us invaluable opportunities to speak directly with those on the front line of cardiac arrest response. Members Neil and Sonya joined us to ensure every conversation was an opportunity to highlight survivorship and the importance of follow-up care.
We also attended The Blue Light Show at Olympia London in June—a newer event focused on cross-collaboration across the emergency services. Joanna and I visited to explore this debut event and assess its potential for future SCA UK involvement. With its focus on interoperability between services and its attendance of over 4,500 blue light professionals, it’s an event we’ll be keeping on our radar.
Representing SCA UK in Scotland
Trustee Stuart Menzies has been flying the flag for SCA UK north of the border throughout 2025. He attended SCAS25 (the Scottish Cardiac Arrest Symposium) in Edinburgh, which marked 10 years of Scotland’s Strategy for Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest and featured powerful presentations on everything from non-technical skills in ALS to paediatric cardiac arrest and the Essex Way approach to survivorship care.
Stuart also joined St Andrew’s First Aid at their celebration of the amazing work they do, raising cardiac arrest awareness and CPR confidence in ethnic minority communities—part of Glasgow City Council’s 850 years celebrations. Alongside partners including Save A Life for Scotland, Scottish Ambulance Service, and Public Health Scotland, it was a fantastic example of community collaboration to improve survival rates.
These connections with the Scottish resuscitation community help ensure survivors in Scotland know they’re not alone.
Corporate Support: Thank You Protect Association
We’re incredibly grateful to the Protect Association, which selected Sudden Cardiac Arrest UK as its nominated charity of the year. At their End of Year Celebration, Awards & Key Insights event in London—marking Protect Association’s 25th anniversary—I was delighted to receive a cheque for £1,010 on behalf of SCA UK.
Thank you to James Edmonds for the invitation and to all the Protect Association members for their generous support. James is himself a co-survivor—his wife experienced a cardiac arrest—so he understands firsthand the importance of peer support for survivors and their families. This kind of corporate partnership makes a genuine difference to what we can achieve, and we’re deeply thankful for their commitment to our community.
London Marathon 2026 Charity Places
We’re thrilled to announce that SCA UK has secured charity places for the TCS London Marathon 2026! Our marathon team is led by trustee Joanna Balgarnie and my wife Tracy—herself a former GB international marathon runner who brings invaluable expertise to support our runners.
We’re looking forward to cheering on Team SCA UK this coming April as they take on those legendary 26.2 miles through London. If you’ve never watched the marathon live, you’re missing out, as it is such an inspiring and joyful event, and with Team SCA UK competing, there’s even more reason to spectate.
Growing Our Digital Presence
We’ve been increasingly active across social media platforms, including LinkedIn, where we’re connecting with healthcare professionals and researchers who share our mission. Our presence is growing on Instagram, Threads, and BlueSky alongside our established Facebook groups and X (Twitter) account. Follow us everywhere to stay connected!
Research and Collaboration
Our commitment to research partnerships continued throughout 2025:
RESCQ Project
The RESCQ project—supporting those who witness cardiac arrests—has progressed significantly. Dr Uzma Sajjad at the Essex Cardiothoracic Centre is piloting this innovative initiative that provides resources, emotional support, and guidance to lay responders. SCA UK remains a key partner, ensuring the survivor and co-survivor voice is heard.
CARESSf Programme
The CARESSf (Cardiac Arrest Recovery Enablement and Self-management Support) feasibility study led by Professor Kirstie Haywood at the University of Warwick continued its vital work. This programme aims to create comprehensive rehabilitation support for survivors and their caregivers—exactly the kind of structured aftercare our community needs.
Child CPR Project
The Child CPR Project looked at the experiences of those under 18 who were involved in a resuscitation attempt. The results were published in October, and a webinar with Dr Claire Hawkes was held to present the findings.
Sharing Our Stories
Our blog remained a powerful platform for survivor and co-survivor stories throughout 2025. Highlights included:
- No One Dies in McDonald’s—debunking the myth that cardiac arrest only affects the unhealthy
- From Survivor to Parkrunner—encouraging survivors to explore gentle exercise with safety measures in place
- Countless personal stories of resilience, recovery, and hope
If you have a story to share, please consider submitting it to our blog. Your voice matters and could make a world of difference to someone beginning their own journey.
Bridging the Gap
We launched our Bridging the Gap initiative for healthcare professionals, making it easier than ever for clinical teams to include SCA UK in their discharge pathways. Signposting patients and families to peer support improves outcomes and addresses the psychological impact that extends beyond medical recovery.
SCA_Leaflet_Oct_2023_V5A major milestone in 2025: we distributed over 1,500 copies of our Effective Peer Support booklet to approximately 35% of cardiac centres across the UK. Our mission is to ensure every sudden cardiac arrest survivor receives this booklet on discharge from hospital. The booklet is entirely self-funded through donations from our members—covering design, printing, postage, and distribution by our volunteers. You can download the booklet here.
We continue working to ensure our materials are available in hospitals and cardiac centres throughout the UK. If you work in healthcare, please help us reach those who need us most.
Remembering Those We Lost
Sadly, 2025 also brought loss to our community. We said goodbye to two beautiful ladies who contributed to SCA UK in their own ways.
Fay Judson was a moderator for many years—warm, wise, and dedicated. She understood instinctively what peer support meant, and she gave generously of herself to ensure others felt less alone. Her contribution lives on in every member she welcomed and every conversation she guided.
Gwyn Robinson was one of the original thirteen survivors who met in that London pub in February 2015—the meeting that would become Sudden Cardiac Arrest UK. She was the oldest of that founding group, and while she contributed quietly rather than visibly, she showed up when it mattered. Communities are built by those who say yes when the room is still mostly empty. Gwyn was one of those people.
Both are deeply missed. We carry their memory forward in everything we do.
Looking Ahead to 2026
In 2026, we’re more determined than ever to ensure that every cardiac arrest survivor and their family know they’re not alone. Our priorities include:
- Increasing awareness of our existence
- Increasing our network of hospitals that stock our leaflets
- Expanding our regional meetup network with Stuart and our dedicated volunteer organisers
- Deepening partnerships with research institutions and healthcare providers
- Advocating for implementation of the RCUK Quality Standards for Cardiac Arrest Survivorship
- Ensuring survivorship remains central to resuscitation policy discussions
Thank You
This year has been a mix of hard work and profound reward, challenge and triumph – which as a organisation run by volunteers is truly amazing!. But through it all, one thing remains constant: our commitment to supporting the cardiac arrest community. As I have often said, survival is a journey, not a destination. You are not alone, and we will continue to stand with you every step of the way.
Thank you to our incredible trustees—Gareth Cole, Stuart Menzies, Joanna Balgarnie, and Professor Tom Keeble—for their tireless dedication. A special congratulations to Tom, who was awarded his professorship in summer 2025—a well-deserved recognition of his outstanding contributions to cardiac care and his unwavering commitment to survivorship. Thank you to every regional meetup organiser, every group moderator, and every person who shared their story. Thank you to the healthcare professionals who partner with us. And thank you to every survivor and co-survivor who trusts us with their journey.
Here’s to 2026. The journey continues—and I look forward to sharing it with every one of you.
Best wishes!
After our first meet-up in February 2015, I realised I was not alone. It was the first time since my cardiac arrest the previous year that I had spoken face-to-face with someone who had experienced what I had. This was also true for my wife, who also happened to be my lifesaver. From that meet-up, the idea of SCA UK was born. Since then, we have achieved a considerable amount, primarily providing information, resources and support to others in a similar situation but also raising the profile of survivorship and the need for better post-discharge care. We are starting to get traction in this, and with the formation of the charity, I genuinely believe we have a bright future ahead and will make a significant difference in the lives of many who join our ranks.