THE COMMUNITY of Hendy has received a share of a £252,656 windfall from the Lottery Fund’s Awards for All small grants programme.
They were amongst 60 projects to have been chosen by the Lottery Fund in this latest giveaway, which was announced on Tuesday, December 6.
Wayne Erasmus of The Hendy and Communities Parks Committee said that the charity had applied to the lottery for a grant to purchase life-saving defibrillators during the autumn. He said: “Thanks to this grant, the community of Hendy has received four defibrillators to be located at strategic places in the community, including Hendy Junior School.”
Speaking about the need for such equipment at the school, Headteacher Rhian Kenny said: “Sadly, children and young people can suffer sudden cardiac arrest, as well as the older population. However, there is currently no national system in place in the UK to ensure defibrillators are on school premises.
“We are delighted and extremely grateful to the Hendy and Communities Parks Committee, a registered charity, for securing funding from the lottery, so that we will soon have a defibrillator on the school premises.”
She continued: “Like the school fire extinguisher, the defibrillator might never be used but it’s good to know it’s in place should it be needed. In actual fact, there is a much higher likelihood of a person suffering a cardiac arrest on the premises than there is a fire breaking out. Pupils, staff and parents will feel more confident knowing a defibrillator is on the premises.”
Plans are now in hand to run training sessions at the school.
Speaking about those plans, Rhian said: “In January, after the Christmas holiday period is over, the school will be organising a community event. Parents will be welcome to come and join the staff at the school and have a free basic life-saving training session, which volunteers from Cariad will be running at our school.”
After securing the award from the Lottery, the Hendy and Communities Parks Committee approached Cariad to arrange delivery and installation of the defibrillators.
Cariad is a registered charity that was set up by Mrs Sherilyn Hamilton- Shaw, to help communities raise the necessary funding to provide local schools and communities with defibrillators and life-saving training. They will now be installed in the New Year in the community of Hendy and Fforest.
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