Bleed Kit Donated to Rainham School by Bereaved Mother 2026

Key Points

• Sue Hedges, a bereaved mother, has donated a life-saving bleed kit to Newtons Primary School in Rainham.
• The donation was made through the Ricky Hayden Memorial, a charity Sue founded after her son Ricky was killed in a knife crime incident.
• Bleed kits are designed to control catastrophic bleeding in emergencies while waiting for ambulance services.
• While often associated with knife crime, Sue stresses the kits can be vital in many types of traumatic incidents, including accidents involving broken glass, machinery, road collisions and sporting injuries.
• The initiative at Newtons Primary School is part of Sue’s wider mission to improve community safety across Havering and beyond.
• Every kit donated by the Ricky Hayden Memorial has been funded entirely by local residents, businesses and community groups.
• Sue hopes the kits will never need to be used, but believes their presence makes schools and public spaces safer.
• People wishing to support the campaign can donate to the Ricky Hayden Memorial to help fund additional bleed kits across Havering.

Rainham (East London Times) July 6, 2026 — A bereaved mother who has dedicated herself to helping save lives following the tragic loss of her son has donated a life-saving bleed kit to Newtons Primary School in Rainham. The donation marks another step in Sue Hedges’ ongoing campaign to improve community safety and ensure more public places across Havering have access to potentially life-saving equipment.

Who Is Sue Hedges and Why Did She Start the Ricky Hayden Memorial?

Sue Hedges founded the Ricky Hayden Memorial after her son Ricky was killed in a knife crime incident. Since then, she has worked tirelessly with the support of local residents and businesses to raise funds to purchase and install bleed kits across Havering and beyond.

As reported in local community updates, Sue’s campaign is driven by the desire to prevent other families from experiencing the same loss she endured.

Every bleed kit donated through the Ricky Hayden Memorial has been funded entirely through the generosity of local residents, businesses and community groups who continue to support the campaign.

What Is a Bleed Kit and How Can It Save Lives in an Emergency?

A bleed kit is an emergency medical pack designed to help control catastrophic bleeding while waiting for the ambulance service to arrive.

The kits typically include items such as trauma dressings, haemostatic gauze, compression bandages and gloves, enabling staff or members of the public to apply immediate pressure and stem severe blood loss.

While bleed kits are often associated with knife crime, Sue hopes people understand they can be vital in many different types of emergencies.

Serious accidents can happen anywhere and severe bleeding may result from incidents involving broken glass, machinery, road traffic collisions, sporting accidents or other traumatic injuries.

Having a bleed kit available can provide staff or members of the public with the equipment needed to help someone in those critical first few minutes before paramedics arrive.

Why Was Newtons Primary School Chosen for This Donation?

The donation to Newtons Primary School forms part of Sue’s ongoing mission to improve community safety and ensure more public places across Havering have access to potentially life-saving equipment.

Schools are community hubs where children, staff and visitors gather daily, making them logical locations for emergency preparedness measures.

By equipping Newtons Primary School with a bleed kit, Sue and her supporters aim to ensure that, in the event of a serious injury, trained staff or first-aiders will have the tools necessary to respond effectively during the crucial window before emergency services arrive.

How Is the Ricky Hayden Memorial Funded and Who Supports It?

Every bleed kit donated through the Ricky Hayden Memorial has been funded entirely through the generosity of local residents, businesses and community groups who continue to support the campaign.

There is no government or statutory funding involved; the initiative relies wholly on grassroots fundraising and community goodwill.

Local businesses have played a significant role, with some hosting donation drives, sponsoring specific kits, or contributing directly to the memorial fund.

Residents have also rallied behind the cause, recognising the potential for these kits to save lives in their own neighbourhoods.

What Does Sue Hedges Hope to Achieve with This Campaign?

Sue hopes the kits will never need to be used, but believes having them available is an important step in making schools, community venues and public spaces safer for everyone.

Her long-term vision is to see bleed kits installed in as many public locations as possible across Havering and surrounding areas, creating a network of community-based first-response resources.

In statements shared through local outreach, Sue has emphasised that the campaign is not about fear, but about preparedness.

She wants communities to feel empowered, knowing that if the worst happens, there is equipment on hand that could make the difference between life and death.

How Can the Public Support the Ricky Hayden Memorial and Fund More Bleed Kits?

Anyone wishing to support Sue’s campaign and help fund additional bleed kits across Havering can make a donation to the Ricky Hayden Memorial.

Contributions of any size are welcomed, with all funds going directly toward purchasing and installing bleed kits in schools, community centres and other public venues.

The campaign continues to seek partnerships with local organisations, schools and businesses who may wish to host a kit or sponsor a donation.

By working together, Sue and her supporters aim to expand the reach of the initiative and ensure that more lives can be saved in moments of crisis.

Background: The Rise of Community Bleed Kit Initiatives Across the UK

In recent years, there has been a growing movement across the UK to place bleed kits in public spaces, driven by increasing awareness of how quickly severe bleeding can become fatal. The push has been supported by first-aid charities, community safety groups and bereaved families who have lost loved ones to violent or traumatic incidents.

While stop-the-bleed training and kits have long been standard in military and some high-risk occupational settings, their adoption in civilian public spaces is relatively new.

Campaigns such as the Ricky Hayden Memorial reflect a broader trend of community-led safety initiatives, where local residents take proactive steps to protect one another in the absence of statutory provision.

Havering, like many London boroughs, has seen a mix of urban and suburban environments where accidents and emergencies can occur unexpectedly.

The placement of bleed kits in schools, leisure centres and community halls is increasingly viewed as a practical, low-cost measure that could significantly improve survival rates in traumatic injury cases.

Prediction: How Could This Development Affect Schools, Families and the Wider Havering Community?

The installation of bleed kits in schools such as Newtons Primary could have a meaningful impact on community safety and emergency preparedness across Havering. For schools, the presence of a kit may provide staff with greater confidence in handling serious injuries, potentially reducing panic and improving outcomes in critical moments.

For families, knowing that their children’s school is equipped with life-saving equipment may offer reassurance, particularly in an era where awareness of traumatic incidents is high.

If the campaign continues to expand, more public venues across the borough could follow suit, creating a culture of preparedness that extends beyond the classroom.

In the wider community, the visibility of such initiatives may encourage other bereaved families, local groups and businesses to launch similar projects, fostering a sense of collective responsibility for public safety.

While no one hopes to see these kits used, their presence could prove decisive in the rare but serious instances where rapid intervention is needed before paramedics arrive.

If the momentum continues, Havering could become a model for other boroughs looking to enhance community-based emergency response, demonstrating how grassroots action can complement statutory services and save lives.