Young people attending the Pennywell Youth Project in Sunderland can have extra peace of mind after EQUANS and leading housing association Gentoo donated money to fund the installation of a life-saving defibrillator.
The centre is a popular hub in the centre of the community, with children from primary school all the way to college frequently visiting to take part in activities and educational workshops.
Working alongside Red Sky Foundation, which was founded by Sergio and Emma Petrucci after their daughter Luna received life-saving heart surgery in 2015, the centre proved to be the ideal location to install the kit with both centre users and the wider community able to benefit should the need arise.
As well as donating money to purchase the community defibrillator – one of the key pillars of Red Sky Foundation’s work – EQUANS and Gentoo have also put money towards education courses.
The courses, open to Youth Project staff, the local nursery, community centre and school, will teach people how to use the life-saving device in the event of an emergency as well as showing how to deliver CPR.
Sergio Petrucci, co-founder of Red Sky Foundation, said: “We’re thrilled to be working with EQUANS, Gentoo and the Pennywell Youth Project. The defibrillator we’ve installed will create a safer area for the local community and I’m personally looking forward to the next phase of the project as we’ll be holding numerous sessions to educate on CPR and defibrillation.”
Installed by GPM Ltd, the defibrillator is just one small part of the lasting legacy EQUANS is aiming to leave for Pennywell, with the team previously supporting projects in the neighbouring community centre.
Julie Milne, Lead Resident Liaison Officer at EQUANS, said: “It was a pleasure to work alongside Rebecca at Gentoo, Sergio and the team at the Pennywell Youth Project to get the defibrillator installed and to be able to offer training courses on how to use it safely and effectively.
“While it’s something that no one hopes they have to use, having it available in the centre of the community provides that reassurance that should the worst happen, help can be quickly at hand.”
Rebecca Bewick, Delivery Manager at Gentoo said: “We are delighted to have been able to provide this vital equipment to support the community in and around Pennywell, through our partnership with EQUANS.
“Having a positive impact on our local communities is important for us at Gentoo, and this equipment along with the training courses led by the Red Sky Foundation is something we are proud to have been a pat of.”
