Soar Valley Bowls Club now boasts a new defibrillator for use during cardiac emergencies.
Charnwood Borough Council awarded £250 of funding towards the defib through its sports facilities grant scheme.

Installation costs were covered by Rothley Park Kindergarten and neighbouring football club, the Rothley Imps. JHMT has provided the cabinet to store the equipment and helped the club to get an AED at a subsidised rate. .

Cllr Leigh Harper-Davies, lead member for communities said: "I'm very pleased we've been able to help Soar Valley Bowls Club purchase a defibrillator through our sports facilities grant scheme.

"Not only will the equipment help the bowls club become heart-safe, but it will also be accessible for the local community.

"I'd encourage other local sports clubs to look into the grants that are available to help them with funding an Automated External Defibrillator."

The defib is fitted outside Rothley Park Kindergarten, on Loughborough Road, Rothley, and is accessible to the public 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Hilary Billings, secretary at Soar Valley Bowls Club said: "Soar Valley Bowls Club is extremely pleased to be associated with the project to supply a defibrillator in our area.

"We are keen to support the welfare of our members and the supply of this machine close to our facilities is a great step forward. With the inclusion of the Rothley Park Kindergarten and the Rothley Park Football Club the machine will cater for a large diversity of age range."

Alan White, lead trainer at JHMT said: "It is good news that a defibrillator is now in place but please learn basic life support, so you know the signs of cardiac arrest, how to do chest compressions and how a defibrillator works. Being prepared is vital, you may save someone's life."

Soar Valley Bowls Club has a 60-year history, with humble beginnings as an activity for workers at the former Rolls Royce factory in Mountsorrel. The club has 60 members and serves communities in Rothley and Mountsorrel.

As well as providing free CPR and defibrillator training, the JHMT works hard to raise awareness of sudden heart deaths, helps to provide community defibrillators and runs Inspire, a local grants scheme for inspirational young people.

The charity was set up after the tragic death of Rothley teenager Joe Humphries in 2012, who died from sudden arrhythmic death syndrome (SADS) while out on a run.

To find out more on how Joe's Trust ( JHMT) can help your club/ organisation to create a heart safe sporting and community environment go to https://www.jhmt.org.uk/impact

Applications for the Council's sports funding grants are now open. For more information about the grants and to apply visit https://www.charnwood.gov.uk/funding_and_support