Announcement:

defibshop partner with

Lagan’s Foundation

defibshop is proud to announce our official charity partnership with Lagan’s Foundation.

Throughout 2026, we will donate £1 for every defibrillator (AED) sold.

This means every purchase made by our UK customers will directly contribute to supporting families who need care, time and support the most.

Why We Chose Lagan’s Foundation

Lagan’s Foundation is a UK based charity supporting families with babies and children who have complex health conditions, including congenital heart defects and feeding difficulties. They exist to support families facing one of the most overwhelming challenges, caring for a seriously ill child, often with little rest, limited support and constant uncertainty.

Founded by Carren Bell after the loss of her daughter Lagan, the charity was built from deeply personal experience and a determination to ensure no family feels alone during their child’s medical journey.

Through a dedicated team of specially trained carers, they provide daytime and overnight respite care, both in the home and in hospital. Their support ranges from assisting with complex feeding needs to providing hands on care, giving parents the opportunity to rest, recover, or simply take a moment to breathe.

Today, Lagan’s Foundation has supported more than 50 families across the North West of England, with a growing waiting list of families still in need of help.

In 2025 alone, the charity supported over 29 children and delivering over 19,000 hours of specialist care across the North West of England.

“ I couldn’t have gone through what I have without Lagan’s. They have taught me so much and have encouraged me to stand up and fight. They have given me time to shop and shower and spend quality time with my girls and given both Luke and I, a voice, so that we can get the very best for him.” - Sarah (Lagan's foundation family).

What Lagan's Foundation Does

Caring for a child with complex health needs is relentless, physically, emotionally and mentally. Lagan’s Foundation provides hands on support to help families cope when they need it most, offering both practical care and reassurance during incredibly challenging times.

Care & Respite Support

Delivered by a dedicated team of 33 trained staff and carers, supported by volunteers, Lagan’s Foundation ensures families feel confident their child is in safe and capable hands.

Support for children aged 0 -19. Care tailored to complex conditions, including heart defects and feeding difficulties
Provided in both home and hospital settings
Daytime and overnight respite care to help parents rest and recover

Ongoing Family Support

Alongside practical care, families receive ongoing emotional support to help them navigate difficult moments.

Reassurance during times of uncertainty
Support with day-to-day challenges
Helping families feel less alone

All carers receive specialist training in complex medical needs, including heart conditions and feeding support, with ongoing training provided to both staff and volunteers.

A Unique Service

Lagan’s Foundation is the only organisation in the UK providing donated respite care for children under five who may not qualify for NHS or local authority support.

Their work is supported by a strong volunteer network, including those involved in care events and fundraising initiatives such as the Cycle Challenge.

Lagan's Story - The Heart Behind the Mission

Lagan’s Foundation was created in memory of a little girl whose journey continues to inspire its work today.

Lagan’s Story

Lagan was diagnosed during pregnancy with complex congenital heart defects.

From the moment she was born in 2011, she faced an incredibly difficult start to life, undergoing intensive care, major heart surgery and long hospital stays in her first weeks.

Despite her strength, Lagan’s condition remained complex. After being discharged home, her care continued around the clock with feeding difficulties, medical routinesnand constant monitoring becoming part of daily life for her family.

At just 15 weeks old, Lagan sadly passed away.

Why the Foundation Was Created

During this time, her family experienced first hand how overwhelming and isolating it can be to care for a child with complex medical needs, particularly once outside of the hospital environment, where support can be limited.

Lagan’s Foundation was established by her mother, Carren Bell, in response to that experience, with a clear purpose:

To ensure no family feels alone during their child’s medical journey
To bridge the gap between hospital care and support at home
To provide the help families often struggle to access

The Reality for Families

Lagan’s journey highlighted the challenges many families face every day:

Managing complex care routines at home
Limited access to consistent support
Emotional and physical exhaustion

For many, the transition from hospital to home can be one of the most difficult parts of the journey.

Her Legacy Today

Lagan’s story now lives on through the families supported by the charity every day.

Today, Lagan’s Foundation provides care, respite, and emotional support to families across the North West of England,

helping parents feel supported, understood and less alone.

“No parent should ever feel alone in their child’s journey.” - Lagan's Foundation

Meet Carren Bell, Founder of Lagan’s Foundation

Carren Bell founded Lagan’s Foundation following the loss of her daughter Lagan, driven by a determination to ensure no family faces a child’s medical journey alone.

Drawing from her own experience, she recognised the lack of support available to families once they return home from hospital and set out to create a service that bridges this gap.

Her Vision

Carren’s vision is to provide families with access to specialist respite care, practical support and emotional reassurance during some of the most challenging moments of their lives.

Improving access to care beyond the hospital environment
Supporting children aged 0 -19 with complex health needs
Reducing isolation for parents and carers

Building a Lasting Impact

Under Carren’s leadership, Lagan’s Foundation has grown into a trusted charity supporting families across the North West of England, with demand for its services continuing to rise. They deliver measurable impact:

Supporting 50+ families across the North West
Providing care for 29 children (2025)
Delivering over 19,000 hours of specialist care
Built a team of 33 trained staff and carers, supported by volunteers

With demand continuing to grow and a waiting list of families still in need, Carren’s work remains focused on expanding access to care and support.

Her work continues to shape the charity’s mission, ensuring Lagan’s legacy lives on through meaningful, ongoing support for families in need.

“No family should feel like they are navigating this journey alone.”

Lagan’s Foundation in Action

These images offer a glimpse into the work of Lagan’s Foundation, supporting families through complex medical journeys with care, compassion and specialist support. From home care to hospital settings, each moment reflects the real impact of the charity’s work across the North West.

Carer Claire Donnelly with Suleman and Yunus Khan

Founder Carren and Head of Communications Lucie with Eva

Carer Sanaa Mahmood with Chloe Teasdale

Carer Claire Donnelly with Kyle Tandy

Carer Angela Major with Lily-Mae Gillian

Carer Janet Melling with Chloe Teasdale

Why It Matters

Congenital heart defects are the most common birth defect in the UK and remain a leading cause of infant mortality.

These statistics highlight the urgent need for specialist support services like Lagan’s Foundation, which provide care beyond the hospital setting and into the home.

1 in every 100 babies is born with a heart defect in the UK
Around 6,000 babies are affected each year
1 in 5 babies with a congenital heart defect will not reach their first birthday

Behind every statistic is a family facing fear, uncertainty and emotional exhaustion, often without the support they need during and after hospital care.

Lagan’s Foundation helps bridge that gap by providing specialist care, respite and reassurance when it is needed most.

How You Can Help...

Every defibrillator purchased through Defibshop helps make a real difference. Through our partnership with Lagan’s Foundation, your support goes beyond life saving equipment, helping families caring for children with complex health needs.