Defibrillator funding and registering them nationally
Access government funding for a defibrillator and learn how to register it so the emergency services can locate it!
Many councils and communities in the last few years have been installing a public access defibrillator (or more than one!) in public places. Other communities may still be looking into this provision, or may want to add to their available defibrillators.
Defibrillators can provide life-saving treatment, with latest research showing that accessing one within 3-5 minutes of a cardiac arrest increases the chance of survival by over 40%. If you are interested in purchasing a defibrillator then you might be pleased to learn that there is government funding available, and if you do already own one then you may want to register it on a national database so it can be found easily when needed.
Defibrillator funding
Community organisations are being invited to bid for funding for a defibrillator in their area; get a share of the £1million of government funding available to buy life-saving devices for community spaces! The Department of Health and Social Care is inviting interested organisations to register their interest in the fund, which is aimed at increasing the number of defibrillators available in public places. They are hoping an estimated 1000 new defibrillators can be provided.
Read more and register your interest here
Defibrillator network
The government has written to all councils encouraging them to register their defibrillators on ‘The Circuit‘. As it stands, many defibrillators are never used because emergency services do not know where they are or how to access them. The British Heart Foundation, in partnership with the NHS, Resuscitation Council UK and the Association of Ambulance Chief Executives, have set up The Circuit as a national defibrillator network database which provides information on where defibrillators are located.
Registering a defibrillator with The Circuit enables the emergency services, including first responders, to locate the nearest publicly accessible defibrillators.
Read stories from East Budleigh and South Tawton who have installed defibrillators already and please do tell us about it if you’re planning to put one in place.
Coronavirus | News from Devon County Council
The latest updates from Devon County Council regarding support for communities during the coronavirus pandemic.
To keep up-to-date with the latest Coronavirus information and local support, please visit the Devon County Council website.
Prompt Action Fund
Devon County Council has launched the COVID-19 Prompt Action Fund to provide flexible resources to organisations working with communities who are disproportionately impacted by coronavirus. There are grants available of under £500 for community-led schemes who are dealing with things like:
- Safe deliveries of essential goods and services to those who are vulnerable
- Support for accessing online information and services
- Virtual support groups to help people stay connected and informed
- Transport related initiatives supporting safe community responses
Town and parish councils can apply or can act as guarantors for other non-constituted groups. All information and application forms are on the Devon County Council website.
Shielding Hubs
A network of ‘shielding hubs’ coordinated by local authorities is being set up across Devon to immediately help those most at risk from coronavirus with urgent food, medicine and care supplies.
Devon County Council is working with the local district and city councils in response to the government’s announcement that 1.5 million of the UK’s most vulnerable people are being asked to shield in self isolation for at least 12 weeks.
Details of the hubs and the process for receiving support over the coming weeks are still being agreed. It is likely that following the initial contact from the NHS, the individual will be contacted by a member of staff from Devon County Council to find out what support they need and how they will be best supported. The district and city councils will work locally to manage the delivery of this support within their communities. Please follow the link for more information.
Community Support Groups
Devon County Council is collating details of community support groups around Devon who are tackling the effects of coronavirus on their communities. Please complete this short survey so that they can add your details to their COVID-19 pages.
Sources of Funding
There are a range of funding opportunities listed on Devon Funding News including Covid-19 support from the Heart of the South West Growth Hub, details of government measures, Facebook small business grants and the Sylvia Adams Charitable Trust for disadvantaged children aged 0-3.