Bowls club gets new community defibrillator

Soar Valley Bowls Club in Rothley now has a new defibrillator for use during cardiac emergencies.

Charnwood Borough Council awarded £250 of funding towards the defibrillator through its sports facilities grant scheme.

Installation costs were covered by Rothley Park Kindergarten and neighbouring football club, the Rothley Imps. Local heart charity the JHMT has provided the cabinet to store the equipment.

Councillor Leigh Harper-Davies, lead member for communities said: “I’m very pleased we’ve been able to help Soar Valley Bowls Club purchase a defibrillator through our sports facilities grant scheme.

“Not only will the equipment help the bowls club become heartsafe, but it will also be accessible for the local community.

“I’d encourage other local sports clubs to look into the grants that are available to help them with funding an Automated External Defibrillator.”

The defib is fitted outside Rothley Park Kindergarten, on Loughborough Road, Rothley, and is accessible to the public 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Hilary Billings, secretary at Soar Valley Bowls Club said: “Soar Valley Bowls Club is extremely pleased to be associated with the project to supply a defibrillator in our area. 

“We are keen to support the welfare of our members and the supply of this machine close to our facilities is a great step forward.  With the inclusion of the Rothley Park Kindergarten and the Rothley Park Football Club the machine will cater for a large diversity of age range.”

Alan White, lead trainer at JHMT said: “It is good news that a defibrillator is now in place but please learn basic life support, so you know the signs of cardiac arrest, how to do chest compressions and how a defibrillator works. Being prepared is vital, you may save someone’s life.”