Sixth-formers at the Robert Smyth Academy, in Market Harborough, have been creating promotional campaigns for The Joe Humphries Memorial Trust (JHMT) as part of their coursework for AS-level media.

It's an annual media project that brings together the JHMT and Robert Smyth students, with this year being the third year the project has taken place.

Steve Humphries, chair of the Trust, visited the school to tell students about the charity's vital work raising awareness of SADS – sudden arrhythmic death syndrome – and sudden heart deaths.

He also explained how, by learning a few simple lifesaving skills like CPR and how to use a defibrillator, you can be the difference between life and death.

The Trust campaigns for a better understanding of conditions like SADS, which can occur without warning, especially in younger people. It also helps to provide defibrillators for communities and training in CPR for sports clubs.

The students were asked to come up with a promotional campaign for the Trust, consisting of a storyboard for a TV advert and three magazine-style posters. Steve then returned to the college to give them feedback on their work.

Steve said: "The brief was for the students to choose an element of JHMT's work – such as why its vitally important to learn CPR and how to use a defibrillator. The students then carry out their own research on a particular area of their choice.

"Some of their work is then used in the school to raise awareness, and we use it within the charity too."

Maria Sherwin, head of film and media at Robert Smyth Academy, said: "We were proud once again to work with JHMT to develop students' advertising skills. The students have enjoyed the process immensely.

"Not only did they benefit from being able to apply their knowledge and understanding of charity advertising to real-world contexts, but they are also keen to share their awareness of SADS and life-saving techniques with their peers."

Former England rugby captain and patron of the JHMT, Martin Johnson, was a student at Robert Smyth. He said: "This is a great project and I'm really pleased that the students got the chance to work closely with the Trust and find out more about its vital work raising awareness of sudden heart deaths that can affect fit and healthy young people."