A publicly accessible defibrillator has been installed at Heyford Park in Oxfordshire as part of a wider safety initiative by Platform Housing Group. The device, which also includes a bleed kit, was fitted with support from the OurJay Foundation and funded by Travis Perkins Managed Services.
Local partners fund and fit life-saving kit
The installation forms part of Platform Housing Group’s drive to improve safety across the areas where it owns and manages properties. Platform said it wants its neighbourhoods to be not only good places to live but safer places too. The project has been made possible by a single donation of £20,000 from Travis Perkins Managed Services, which funds the rollout of 20 defibrillators across Platform’s communities.
"We’re committed to investing in the communities we serve and this goes far beyond providing homes," said Sarah Sutton, director of customer service and experience at Platform Housing Group.
Warwickshire-based OurJay Foundation, set up in memory of Jamie Rees who died aged 18 after a cardiac arrest, supported the installation. Naomi Rees‑Issitt, the charity’s founder and Jamie’s mother, emphasised how immediate access to a defibrillator can improve survival chances.
What this means for residents
The public placement of a defibrillator at Heyford Park means residents, visitors and passers-by will have access to potentially life-saving equipment if someone suffers a cardiac arrest. The devices are designed to be used by members of the public — many models provide step-by-step voice instructions — and the inclusion of a bleed kit adds further capacity to respond to severe injuries until emergency services arrive.
- Who funded it: Travis Perkins Managed Services (£20,000 donation)
- Charity partner: OurJay Foundation
- Provider: Platform Housing Group (owns/manages 541 homes in Oxfordshire)
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Donation | £20,000 |
| Number of defibrillators funded | 20 |
| Included equipment | Defibrillator and bleed kit |
Platform is the first housing association to partner with the OurJay Foundation, the organisation said. Platform currently owns and manages 541 homes across Oxfordshire, and the defibrillator installations are intended to serve both residents and the wider public in those communities.
Ben Clifford, senior account manager at Travis Perkins Managed Services, described the company as proud to support the initiative. The combined action from a housing provider, a memorial charity and a corporate donor highlights a collaborative approach to reducing preventable deaths from cardiac arrest at local level.
Residents seeking to locate the new cabinet at Heyford Park or to find other public defibrillators in the area can contact Platform Housing Group for details of locations and access instructions.
