The Friends of Oxhey Park have installed a defibrillator at Tasty Bean Café which is located in the park, after being awarded £2,663 from the Neighbourhood Grant managed by Watford Borough Council...
The grant, which is part of the council's initiative to make Watford a safer place to live, work, and play, has enabled the group to purchase a life-saving device that can be used in the event of a cardiac arrest.
A defibrillator is a device that delivers an electric shock to the heart in cases of life-threatening cardiac arrhythmias. Having a defibrillator on-site can make a crucial difference in the survival rate of someone experiencing a cardiac emergency. The Friends of Oxhey Park is grateful to receive this grant, so they can provide a safer environment for those visiting the open space.
Sandy Belloni Chairman of Friends of Oxhey Park, said: "We are delighted to receive this grant from the council. Having a defibrillator on-site will provide an added sense of security for those visiting the park. We hope that we will never have to use it, but if the need arises, we will be prepared to act quickly and effectively."
Elected Mayor of Watford, Peter Taylor, expressed his support for the initiative, stating that: "We are committed to making Watford a safer place to live, work, and play. The Neighbourhood Grant scheme is one of the ways we are achieving this goal. I am delighted that Friends of Oxhey Park has been awarded this grant to install a defibrillator, which is an essential life-saving device.”
The device will be available to all park visitors in case of an emergency. The Friends of Oxhey Park encourages other community organisations to consider applying for the Neighbourhood Grant scheme to improve the safety of their premises.
The next round of funding for the Neighbourhood Grant is now open. To find out more, including this year’s projects, please visit www.watford.gov.uk/community. The programme funded by the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) from developers of new housing, operates annually to mitigate the effects of development and enhance the local community's sustainable growth.
