Weasenham Community Centre receives new defibrillator thanks to funding from housing association
A community centre has gained a lifesaving piece of medical kit after waiting for more than a year for it.
Housing association Victory Homes, part of Flagship Group, has donated a defibrillator worth more than £1,500 to Weasenham Parish Council.
The council had wanted a defibrillator to fill a cabinet installed over a year ago on the wall of the community centre in Lamberts Close, Weasenham St Peter. Still, it had lacked one until Victory came forward with an offer to fund it.
Joe McNeill, Victory’s neighbourhood operations manager, said: “We know that this community centre is a real hub for local residents. We’re really happy to be able to supply this defibrillator to ensure it’s a safe spot for the community.”
Mr McNeill and Victory’s head of housing, Jay Furner, handed the defibrillator over to parish council vice chairman Tom McClenaghan and councillor Jackie Hargreaves. Following the handover, Lyn Halsted, Flagship’s training manager, gave locals guidance on using the defibrillator, as well as some basic CPR training.
Mrs Furner said: “The locals use this centre for so much and we’re really happy to not only donate them the defibrillator, but also offer them the first-aid training so that they feel confident using it should they have to.”
Mr McClenaghan said: “We’re extremely grateful to Victory and to Flagship for their generosity in providing the defibrillator. Having a second unit in the village is brilliant, and having this new one in the communal rooms will give people using the facility, as well as those living nearby, some comfort.”
Weasenham is a village between Fakenham and Swaffham. Victory manages a number of homes near its community centre, which has a small gym and is regularly used for social events.
The donation follows the housing association adding planters and park benches to a small park in Lambert’s Close early last year.