Project using cash from the 5p carrier bag charge has installed over 20 defibrillators in Cambridgeshire

Posted by rob smyth | Published: 05/01/2018


Over 20 lifesaving pieces of equipment have been placed in the heart of the community in Cambridgeshire by Central England Co-operative thanks to funds raised by the 5p carrier bag levy.

The Society has installed a total of 300 defibrillators at its food stores and funeral homes across 16 different counties as part of an ambitious scheme during the past 12 months, with 23 being put in place in sites such as March, Stamford and Orton.

It is estimated that around 100,000 people die from Sudden Cardiac Arrest in the UK each year and, while CPR saves the lives of around nine per cent, if CPR is used alongside a defibrillator the chance of survival increases to 50 %.

Central England Co-op worked closely with ambulance services to find the best locations for the devices and, where possible, fitted them to buildings externally so the community could use them 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Martyn Cheatle, Central England Co-operative Chief Executive, said: “Sudden Cardiac Arrest is one of the UK’s biggest killers and, after listening to the concerns of customers, members and partners, we wanted to help tackle the issue by getting more life-saving equipment into communities where it can save lives.

“As a responsible business we place a huge focus on making a positive contribution to the communities in which we trade; we are delighted to have been able to build on our existing work with this project which we funded from the 5p carrier bag levy.

“The response to the project by our colleagues, customers and members has been amazing and we have been taken aback by the positive response from the communities in which we serve.”

After every device was installed by long-term partner Oak Electrical, special familiarisation sessions took place for staff at Society outlets, nearby business, local residents and community groups to help people find out more about the device and its ease of use.

Kev Morris, Store Manager at Central England Co-operative, said: "Everyone in our stores and funeral homes have been delighted to have been such an integral part of ensuring these lifesaving devices could be installed and be of great benefit to our communities.

"If one of the defibrillators is ever needed, anyone can call 999 and the emergency operator will pass on a code that will open the locked case that the equipment is stored in.

"The devices will then talk the person through how to use it – they are easy to use and any member of the community would be able to do so if needed."

 

Notes to editors

 

Sidebar:

 

Here is a list of the locations of defibrillators in Cambridgeshire:

  • Cambourne Food Store, in Lower Cambourne
  • St Neots Funeral Home, in Huntingdon Street
  • Dennis Easton Funeral Services, in The Lodge
  • Sawtry Funeral Home, in Green End Road
  • Huntingdon Funeral Home, St Peters Road
  • March Food Store, Badgeney Road
  • J H Landin & Son Funeral Services, in High Street, Chatteris
  • R J Scholes Funeral Services, St George’s Street, Stamford
  • Watkins & Stafford Funeral Services, Fitzwilliam Street, Peterborough
  • Mayors Walk Food Store, Mayors Walk, Peterborough
  • Werrington Co-operative Funeralcare services, Lincoln Road, Peterborough
  • Eye Food Store, High Street, Peterborough
  • R J Scholes Funeral Services, Wherry’s Lane, Bourne
  • R J Scholes Funeral Services, Horsegate, Peterborough
  • Southfields Drive Food Store, Peterborough
  • London Road Food Store, Hempsted
  • M J Claypole Funeral Services, Main Street, Peterborough
  • Littleport Food Store, Wisbech Road
  • Wisbech Funeral Home, in Norwich Road
  • Orton Food Store, Ortongate Shopping Centre
  • St Ives Food Store, Constable Road
  • RJ Scholes Funeral Home, St George’s Street
  • Yaxley Food Store, in Bentley Avenue

 

Picture: One of the defibrillators now in place at over 300 Central England Co-operative food stores and funeral homes.

 

Picture: Central England Co-op colleague Kev Morris posing with one of the defibrillators.

 

About Central England Co-operative

 

Central England Co-operative is one of the largest independent retail co-operative societies in the UK. It is a modern, forward-looking organisation employing over 8,000 staff, with gross sales of £927 million in 2016/17. The Society’s principal areas of activity are food, funeral services, and property investment. Central England Co-operative has over 400 trading outlets across 16 counties including; West Midlands, Warwickshire, Worcestershire, Staffordshire, Derbyshire, Leicestershire, Rutland, Nottinghamshire, Northamptonshire, Lincolnshire, West Yorkshire, South Yorkshire, Suffolk, Norfolk, Bedfordshire and Cambridgeshire.  The Society has an ambitious food store development programme for 2017.

 

Central England Co-operative is proud of its reputation for ethical business practices and corporate responsibility.  It is a member of Business in the Community, the membership organisation that stands for responsible business, and has also won many business awards for excellence.  The Society supports a number of charities including Dementia UK and invests a percentage of its trading profit into local communities.

 

Becoming a member of Central England Co-operative offers a whole host of benefits ranging from collecting points every time you spend in store to earn a share of the profits, access to members activities and community initiatives including the Community Dividend Fund, which hands out grants of up to £5,000 to charities and good causes across the Society’s trading estate.

Find out how to become a Central England Co-operative member by calling 0800 0501 601, emailing members@centralengland.coop or visiting https://www.members.coop

 

For more information visit www.centralengland.coop, follow Central England Co-operative on Twitter: @mycoopfood, and on Facebook: facebook.com/centralenglandcooperative

 

Rob Smyth / Heather Clapton at Central England Co-operative on 01543 414140

 

Email –publicrelations@centralengland.coop