Following our recent annual Newton News update on the current 24-hour Public Access Defibrillator Project for Aycliffe, I am yet again delighted with the responses.

Firstly, David and Julie Morton contacted me. David, a local businessman, has heart problems and was considering buying a defibrillator for his own use.

However, as he said to me “it’s not going to be much help to anyone else if it’s in a cupboard under my stairs”.

They have donated a substantial sum to purchase and install, for public availability, an outdoor cabinet on their home at Foxton Close. We will equip this box with our spare defibrillator which will be available via a 999 call.

Situated at the entrance to Foxton Close from Woodham Way it is the ideal location, and bridges the gap between the units at the PCP and Woodham Community Centre. A public campaign is now underway to raise a further £1,200 to purchase a new spare unit, which backs up all the existing units.

David and Julie are raising funds locally, and donations can also be made by contacting me or by:

Internet: www.localgiving.org

Search Woodham Village Community

Association,

Follow instructions to make donation,

Make reference Defibrilator donation.

Secondly, Philip Clark contacted me on behalf of Horndale Community Committee. The Committee were one of the very first to help start the project several years ago. They will be funding the fitting and support, for another outdoor unit on Greenway Convenience store. The shop owners, the Singh family, will maintain the unit using the funds donated by the Residents Community and accounted for by Woodham Village Community Association.

These two units provide further links to the chain of potential lifesaving equipment. The few remaining gaps of coverage are rapidly being filled. Our aim is that by the end of this year we could have most residents within a radius of 500 yards of a defibrillator.

This highlights again what I have said so many times, Newton Aycliffe is a wonderful place to live, full of incredibly good people who care about their community. As Covid lockdown eases we will restart the free CPR and Defibrillator use courses so watch Newton News for details.

David Sutton-Lloyd

Vesting Trustee & Treasurer,

Woodham Village Community Association.

Email: woodham.community@gmail.com

Telephone: 01325 316144