"Precious minutes can save lives": New defibrillator for Rugby learning centre

A defibrillator has been installed at the Percival Guildhouse in Rugby town centre.

It has been made possible thanks to a grant from Heart of England Co-operative Society’s Helping Hearts Award Scheme and donations from the centre’s students.

The defibrillator has been sourced from the OurJay Foundation, the charity founded by Naomi Rees Issitt to raise awareness, funds and training for accessible defibrillators following the death of her son Jamie, 18, who died in hospital after he had a cardiac arrest.

Sarah Gall, manager at St Matthew's Street centre, said: "While our nearest defibrillator was just a stone’s throw away at Rugby Art Gallery & Museum, we know that precious minutes can save lives.

David Dove, Guildhouse Trustee; Centre Manager Sarah Gall and Jem Issitt, OurJay Foundation Trustee.

"So, Trustees decided we needed to have a defibrillator attached to our building.”

Heart of England Co-op (HOE) provided a grant of £1,000 towards the £1,500 cost of the unit and its installation with the remainder being made up by donations from the centre’s students

Catherine Evans, Community & Charity Adviser of HOE said: “The Co-operative Society is a passionate supporter of positive community initiatives which enhance wellbeing. We are proud to be able to support the OurJay Foundations work and assist The Percival Guildhouse.

Jem Issitt, a Trustee at OurJay Foundation, said: “This has grown from an initiative to make life-saving equipment available in Rugby to now having nationwide coverage with our defibrillators being installed as far afield as Cornwall and the Lake District, as well as throughout Rugby.

"It’s an ongoing commitment from us and from all those who now have a defibrillator and must maintain it operationally to ensure immediate help is at hand in an emergency.”