A COMMUNITY centre has had a defibrillator installed following a donation from a football club.
The Old Boat Corner Community Centre in Carden Hill, Brighton was able to afford one of the life-saving devices after a £500 donation from Patcham United, which was then match-funded by one of the centre's trustees.
The Connor Saunders Foundation, based in Sussex, also helped the centre by match-funding their fundraiser for the defibrillator, after they agreed to pay for half of the £1,800 cost if they fundraised for the rest.
Reyna Kothari, the centre's manager, said that they had looked into the idea of getting a defibrillator for the building before the pandemic, but restrictions and lockdowns postponed those plans.
She said: "Patcham United had previously said they would be interested in donating money towards that kind of thing, so we went up to them and asked and they said 'yes, absolutely'."
The device has been fitted on the outside of the building, something which Reyna thought was an important consideration - as it is not restricted in anyway and is accessible regardless of whether the centre is open or closed.
She said that the device can now serve the whole community, especially as there are plans to refit parks in the nearby area, which could attract a greater influx of people for sports and events.
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Staff at the centre have all received training in how to use the device, Reyna explained, and said that anyone who calls 999 can be directed to their defibrillator in an emergency.
The centre has recently had their kitchen refitted, transforming the space into a cafe-style area as opposed to its former life as a social club, and has also started hosting coffee mornings for older people in the community.
The Connor Saunders Foundation was set up in memory of a teenager of the same name, who was killed after being punched in an unprovoked attack, aged 19. The Foundation has helped install 108 defibrillators at schools, clubs and projects across Sussex to make them 'heart safe' and save the lives of young people.
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