Residents in Banbury will have the opportunity to learn life-saving skills during the Banbury Big CPR Challenge, a free training event taking place at Spiceball Country Park on 27 June 2026. Organised by the Banbury Town Council Civic Department, the challenge aims to teach 999 people how to perform CPR in a relaxed, pressure-free environment.
The event is set to run from 11:00 AM to 4:00 PM and coincides with the town’s celebration of Armed Forces Day. Visitors to the park can participate in the training while also enjoying the various festivities of the day, which include a military parade starting from Banbury Town Hall, RAF flypasts, and displays from the emergency services.
Health officials highlight that learning these skills is vital, as the UK sees more than 30,000 out-of-hospital cardiac arrests every year, with survival rates currently below 1 in 10. According to the British Heart Foundation, performing early CPR and using a defibrillator can double a victim’s chances of survival. Despite this, public access defibrillators are used in fewer than 10 per cent of cases.
Spiceball Country Park, the town’s largest green space at 26 acres, was chosen to host the event due to its ability to accommodate large family crowds. The park itself has a long history in the town, dating back to land donated in the 1880s by Thomas Hankinson, a former mayor and local butcher famous for his hand-made meatballs.
The training will be supported by the broader emergency response network, including the South Central Ambulance Service, which provides ambulance cover for the region. Those interested in taking part in the challenge can register their attendance for the day.
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