Three more defibrillators delivered to local communities
The ground-breaking, life-saving partnership initiative launched by East Ayrshire Council is continuing to bear fruit as three more local community groups received defibrillator equipment donated by local contractors.
Last week, Bonnyton Thistle Football Club, Muirkirk Community Council and Dalrymple, Hollybush and Skeldon Project met with their donor businesses as their defibrillator equipment was handed over.
Unico and Life Environmental donated the equipment for Bonnyton Thistle Football Club, and local members, Councillors Maureen MacKay, Neal Ingram, Graham Barton, Lillian Jones and Alyson Simmons were present to see Chris Davies and Mandy Meechan handover the kit to Ian Higgins from the Football Club.
Rhodar donated the equipment to Dalyrmple, Hollybush and Skeldon Project and Councillor Jennifer Hogg was on hand to receive it from Tony Conway, Rhodar, on behalf of the community project. Councillor Neal Ingram, Cabinet Member with responsibility for Community Safety, Roads and Transportation and Community Cohesion and local members Councillors Drew Filson and Elaine Stewart were also in attendance.
CCG donated the equipment for Muirkirk Community Council. Local members Councillors Linda Holland, Alyson Simmons and William Lennox were present as Chris Murray, CCG handed over the device to David McLatchie from the Community Council.
This unique initiative, devised by the Council’s Health and Safety Service and Procurement, encourages local contractors to donate life-saving equipment for distribution within the communities where they are undertaking work, as part of their obligations to provide wider local community benefits during the life of their contract with the Council.
Councillor Neal Ingram, Cabinet Member with responsibility for Community Safety, Roads and Transportation and Community Cohesion said:
“This initiative is really gathering momentum and I’m extremely grateful to our contractors Unico, Life Environmental, Rhodar and CCG for their generous donations. These acts of kindness will genuinely help to save lives in our local communities and they showcase the real benefits of partnership working. These businesses are leading by example and they should be proud of the contributions they are making to our communities."
As part of this initiative, local community organisations are also being offered training and support in the safe usage of the defibrillator equipment and how to do CPR. Over 500 people have completed the training so far which is delivered by the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service and the Council’s Events and Resilience Officer.
Some of those who have been involved include East Ayrshire Leisure Trust, Vibrant Communities, Spirit Apprentices, Freeflow Traffic Management, Mauchline Primary School, Kilmarnock Harriers, Galleon Leisure Centre, top level East Ayrshire football clubs, Dalrymple Doonfest Group members and Tivoli Contractors. All attendees receive a certificate from SFRS following the training and the Council’s Greener Communities and Housing Asset Services front line staff are next in line to be trained.