Chesterfield FC's Laurence Maguire named as club's Community Save A Life Scheme champion

The defender for Chesterfield FC will represent the life-saving scheme in local schools across the town in visits organised by the club’s Community Trust to help teach children the vital skills.

Laurence, who completed the Community Save A Life Scheme (CSALS) free online first aid course, which is provided by the charity in partnership with Virtual College, encouraged more people to learn first aid.

The 24 year old said: “I think that more people need to start getting involved in first aid training and I am very happy to be associated with CSALS.

“It’s a really good course, which is very helpful.

"It’s easy to follow and I’ve learned a lot from it.

"I’d urge anyone to do the course.”

Laurence admitted learning first aid has given him the reassurance that he would now be able to help someone in need of medical assistance in the future.

He added: “I’d feel more confident about being able to administer first aid now.

"I’ll be honest and say that I wouldn’t have really known what to do previously but since doing the course I feel that if anything occurred now where someone required first aid, I’d be able to help.”

Chair of CSALS Dr Cheryle Berry MBE commented: “We are delighted that Laurence has accepted our invitation to represent CSALS.

“As someone who went to school in Chesterfield and graduated from the club’s academy to become a first-team regular, he is a great model, and we look forward to working with him.

“We are also grateful to Chesterfield FC and Chesterfield FC Community for providing us with valuable support.”

CSALS has had a long-standing association with the football club, which took part in setting a Guinness World Record at their home ground in 2016 when 1,795 people participated in a first aid lesson at one time.

To complete the free, online course, which teaches basic first aid skills and takes around 45 minutes, click here.

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