LIFESAVING equipment has been installed at Davenham Cricket Club with help from housebuilder Redrow.

The club received funding towards the cost of the defibrillator and cabinet thanks to Redrow’s Hartford Community Fund – born out of its Hartford Grange development.

The defibrillator is a vital piece of first aid equipment and is available for use by the club and community alike.

Karen Gallagher, junior co-ordinator at the club, said: “The committee and wider membership of Davenham Cricket Club are really appreciative of the £1,200 community funding donation from Redrow.

“It’s been put towards a defibrillator with external casing which has been located in a prominent position outside the clubhouse entrance.

“As a club we have had the purchase of a defibrillator in our plans for three years but funding has been an issue.

“The health and safety of our juniors and wider membership is a priority but, with first aid and safeguarding requirements for all of our 12 coaches, finances are limited so external funding has been very welcome.

“Access to the defibrillator will not only benefit our 150+ junior members, 50+ senior members and 100+ social members but also all opposition players and footballers playing on the pitches adjacent to the cricket club.

“We’d like to thank Redrow for their support to not only Davenham CC but to the whole community.”

The donation was allocated from the homebuilder’s Hartford Community Fund, which has seen more than £20,000 directly invested into local good causes since 2016.

Caroline Thompson- Jones, area sales manager for Redrow, said: “A defibrillator is a potentially life-saving piece of equipment.

“We’ve installed more than 100 of them across our developments and divisional offices and, in some areas, have partnered with Hand on Heart to provide defibrillators in schools.

“Sport is a great way to get young children involved in community events and to connect and bond the community as a whole. The safety of all those taking part is paramount and so we were keen to be able to help Davenham Cricket Club purchase such an important piece of first aid equipment. Of course, we hope it will never be used – but it is reassuring to know it is there in the event of an emergency.”