About The Trust

The Joe Humphries Memorial Trust has been set up to: break the 'silence' on SADS, create a new generation of young life savers and inspire young people. The Trust was set up after the tragic loss of Joe Humphries who died while out jogging with his friend in October 2012.

• to facilitate increased awareness and understanding with the aim of reducing the impact and incidence of sudden arrhythmic death syndrome (SADS) in young people
• to inspire young people to fulfil their potential.

Original Charities Deed Objectives

1. To promote research into, and awareness of, sudden unexpected death in young people
2. To promote education and training for young people and those who live and work with young people about how to react to unexpected life threatening situations
3. To inspire young people to fulfill their potential and develop their talents

Sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) is different from a "heart attack". SCA can affect people of all ages, is not associated with any pain, occurs without warning and often happens in seemingly fit individuals. JHMT concentrates its resources in three areas:

1. To maximise the chances of survival of those who suffer a heart arrhythmia by the teaching of both CPR skills and defibrillator awareness. JHMT concentrates primarily on those most likely to be in close proximity when such an incident occurs and thus targets those who engage in or support people of all ages in the whole range of active sports and leisure pursuits.

2. To increase the number of defibrillators (AEDs) within the community and ensure that the greatest number of these are accessible to the everyone at all times (often described as a Community Public Access Defibrillator (CPAD)).

3. To increase the support to families affected by SADS and explore the possibility of other family members being at risk from cardiac arrythmias.

To achieve these aims JHMT is involved in:

1. CPR / AED awareness

1.1. Wherever JHMT supports the installation of an AED then training in CPR / AED awareness forms an integral part of that support.

1.2. JHMT fully supports the introduction of CPR training within schools and is delighted that it has become entrenched nationally in the school curriculum. We encourage all institutions to adopt CPR training and Defibrillator Awareness into their core training.

1.3. CPR and defibrillation is an integral part of healthcare training.

1.4. In collaboration with UK Coaching and Sport England an eLearning module has been produced and should be completed by all coaches of all sports at all levels.

2. Increasing the number of AEDs

2.1. In collaboration with Public Health Leicester (PHL), Leicester City Council (LCC) and East Midlands Ambulance Service (EMAS) the locations of all AEDs within Leicester has been mapped. In areas of AED deficiency a greater number of defibrillators will be made available to the community at all times.

2.2. Following consultation with JHMT De Montford University (DMU) have increased the number of available AEDs on site.

2.3. The existence of all AEDs should be made known to the ambulance service and included within its database (known as "The Circuit"). This is mandatory for all AEDs supported by or provided through JHMT.

2.4. In early October each year there is a "SADS Awareness Week". This comprises digital material and face-to-face meetings encompassing SADS, CPR training and AED acquisition with a particular focus on sports practitioners (e.g. PE Teachers, school nurses, sports coaches, and sports managers).

3. Family support

Within the UK there are only six specialist clinics into inherited cardiac disorders (an ICC Clinic). UHL has created an ICC to embrace the middle of England and JHMT has funded, for one year, a Nurse Specialist for this clinic. This clinic includes genetics and the investigation of individuals and families deemed to be at risk from having a sudden cardiac arrest.

(In 2020, the JHMT funded the first UHL Childhood Bereavement Officer post, which is now permanent, to ensure that families who experience the death of a child within UHL between ages 0-18 have clear support in the immediacy and coming months after a death, including guidance through the coronial system.)

To establish and develop further the Inspire Awards Scheme programme within Leicester and Leicestershire for young people, 13 – 21 years old, which will enable them to develop their full potential and capabilities.