A KENDAL charity action group has received a £5,000 funding boost from the Big Lottery Fund.

Hand on Heart Kendal says the money has been used to ensure 13 South Lakeland schools have been given a defibrillator and basic life support training.

Hand on Heart is a national charity whose objective is to ensure that every school in the UK has a potentially lifesaving defibrillator on its premises.

A group of Kendal businesswomen have taken up the cause with the aim of raising £45,000 to make all 40 schools in the Kendal and surrounding areas “Heart Safe”.

The schools to have received their defibrillator and basic life support lessons are: Ambleside Primary ; Broughton CE Primary; Coniston C of E Primary; Crosthwaite CE Primary; Dean Gibson RC Primary, Kendal; Goodly Dale Primary, Windermere; Grayrigg CE Primary; Langdale CE Primary; Leven Valley CE Primary; Penny Bridge CE Academy; St Cuthbert's Catholic Primary, Windermere; St Oswalds CE Primary, Burneside; Staveley CE Primary.