A community-funded defibrillator which was stolen from Windmill Hill Children’s Centre in Runcorn has been replaced free of charge by a local company.
The defibrillator, a joint-funded project between the Big Local, Windmill Hill School, Children’s Centre, Nursery, Church and Onward Homes, was stolen from outside the children’s centre at the end of last year.
Although the area was covered by CCTV, the weather on the night it was stolen was extremely poor and no images were able to be used.
However, thanks to the alert put out by Runcorn Police, the notification was picked up by the Managing Director of Concept Hygiene, Andy Cotter, who offered to replace the defibrillator and unit completely free of charge. Liverpool-based Concept Hygiene, leading provider of defibrillators in the North West.
Said Andy: “After learning of how hard the community had worked to facilitate the defibrillator in the first instance, it is really disheartening that the unit had been stolen. Being a local company, we were only too happy to help out a community in need.”
The children’s centre has now upgraded its CCTV cameras to ensure that picture quality is enhanced.
Claire Pentin, Children’s Centre Principal Manager, said: “We are so grateful to Concept Hygiene for the replacement of the defibrillator – such a kind gesture. This is a community asset which is accessible 24 hours a day when you contact 999.”
Photo shows, left to right:
PCSO Katie Jarvis – Cheshire Police
Claire Pentin – Principal Manager, Children’s Centre
Paula Newman, Headteacher, Windmill Hill School
Victoria Atkinson, Sales and Marketing Manager, Concept Hygiene
Margaret Hicks, Nicola Gascoign and Sue Scott, Residents and Big Local Partnership members.