TWO employees of the USN Bolton Arena have scooped a national award for their work promoting life-saving techniques.

Nicola Toole, senior customer services manager, and Lesley Hough, customer services manager, won the Innovation category in the British Heart Foundation Heart Hero Awards.

The awards were held at Leeds University and recognised the work of people all over the country and their dedication to saving lives.

The Bolton duo, having had many years of first-aid experience between them, first went on a North West Ambulance Service course linked to the British Heart Foundation’s Heartstart initiative which enabled them to teach life-saving skills. They also attended a NWAS Train the Trainer course to teach people to use the Arena’s two defibrillators.

Almost all the Arena’s staff have now been trained in these life-saving methods but Nicola and Lesley took their interest a step further. They began working in the community, going into schools in their own time, teaching the vital system which saves lives.

They even went into Nicola’s daughter Tilly’s school, Belmont Primary, to teach four and five year-olds, as well as in women’s groups and businesses.

“It was really amazing at the awards,” said Nicola. “We heard these citations for everyone and were very impressed. It was really inspiring. We certainly didn’t expect to win but when we were called out we were really pleased to receive the award.”

Nicola and Lesley are not stopping there, either. They plan to continue getting out and about, spreading the word, teaching people how to use defibrillators and, hopefully, make a difference.