Leek Building Society, recently named the UK’s Best Building Society 2023 and Staffordshire’s Employer of the Year, is funding the installation of 100 life-saving defibrillators in local communities.
With the exciting announcement of their four-year partnership with AEDdonate, the Society is going even further in delivering on their purpose of making a positive difference to their members and local communities. The installation of 100 units bolsters their commitment to supporting wellbeing across Staffordshire, Cheshire, Derbyshire and Shropshire.
The reality is that sudden cardiac arrest can happen to anyone at any time. According to the British Heart Foundation, there are around 7.6 million people living in the UK today with heart and circulatory diseases, resulting in more than 160,000 deaths each year. To put that into perspective, that’s equivalent to one death in the UK every three minutes.
With cardiac-related incidents occurring unexpectedly and affecting individuals of all ages, the accessibility of defibrillators can make a real difference to survival chances. Someone who understands the value of a defibrillator is former Premier League footballer Fabrice Muamba who suffered a cardiac arrest during a televised FA Cup match in 2012. The Society was privileged to welcome Fabrice to its Head Office recently to share his story with staff, further reinforcing the immense value that defibrillators can provide.
Andrew Healy, Chief Executive, Leek Building Society, said “Giving back to the community is absolutely core to our purpose in Leek Building Society. We were set up 160 years ago to support the local community and we’re doing that more and more today – through our foundation, through the various community organisations and charities we support, through our volunteering, through our sponsorships. And today we’re really delighted to join with AED to announce our plans to install 100 defibrillators across the midlands. What more of a difference to our local communities can we make than saving lives? Together we’ll be doing just this”.
AEDdonate, renowned for its expertise in providing defibrillators to organisations and communities, will assist in the installation and maintenance of the devices.
Jamie Richards, Chief Executive Officer from AEDdonate, added: “We’re pleased to collaborate with Leek Building Society, where together, we can make a significant impact in enhancing community safety and preparedness. By strategically placing defibrillators in areas where they are most needed, we aim to empower individuals to act swiftly in emergency situations and potentially save lives. We commend Leek Building Society for their commitment to community welfare and look forward to working together to achieve our shared objectives.”
The announcement underscores the Leek’s commitment to making a difference to the wellbeing of their members and the wider community.
