THE British Red Cross has been presented with a cheque for more than £1,800 from telecommunications company AFL Swindon.

Margaret Harman, HR and EHS manager for the company, which is based at Hawksworth Industrial Estate, presented £1,890.72 to Joanne Riches, the British Red Cross’s CBFA and resilience co-ordinator.

She said: “On behalf of AFL and the AFL Community Outreach Program, we are delighted to be able to make this contribution towards the work of the British Red Cross, which we know to be a cause which many of the team at AFL are keen to support.”

The grant, from AFL’s Community Outreach Program, will teach schoolchildren various life-saving skills that build confidence and help them to cope with a first aid emergency.

Swindon has a high level of young people who are home alone after school or looking after siblings. Students will learn how to recognise and treat an unconscious casualty as well as treat burns, bleeding and broken bones.

Joanne Riches said: “First aid education for all is an ongoing plan within the British Red Cross. We are working with schools to deliver first aid education throughout the county.

“We will also endeavour to raise funds to continue first aid education in schools; this is the reason we appreciate the continuous support we are given by businesses such as AFL.”