Orbit has installed three new lifesaving defibrillators at its community hubs in Norfolk, Suffolk and Northamptonshire.
The team at Orbit identified that there were no defibrillators –essential lifesaving tools for anyone in cardiac arrest – in the vicinity of its hubs and so set about trying to secure them. The team applied to The Department of Health and Social Care’s (DHSC) Community Automated External Defibrillators Fund, aimed at increasing the number of defibrillators in public places where they are most needed to help save lives.
Orbit was successfully awarded 50% of the cost which it matched to raise the total funding required.
The defibrillators have been installed on the outside of Orbit’s Community Hubs where they are accessible to the public in the event someone nearby experiences a cardiac arrest. They have also been registered on The Circuit, the UK’s national defibrillator network so that the ambulance service can direct people to them in an emergency.
The community hubs offer Orbit customers free face to face support on a range of issues such as managing finances, health and wellbeing, employability and skills as part of Orbit’s Better Days programme.
Louise Millington, Better Days Hub lead for Orbit commented: “We want to help create communities where people feel safe and supported. We're delighted that we have been able to secure this essential lifesaving equipment for the people in and around our community hubs which also offer a range of free services to support people’s health and wellbeing.”