Defibrillator Donation to Biggin Hill Football Club
We donated a defibrillator to Biggin Hill Football Club!
This week, our team donated a defibrillator to Biggin Hill Football Club, our way of giving back to the community who support and inspires us. Biggin Hill Football Club isn’t just about football; it’s a place where people come together, celebrate teamwork, and build a stronger, healthier community.
Andy from Biggin Hill also expressed appreciation for the donation:
“Biggin Hill did not have a local football team. In 1919 Biggin Hill FC was formed, but the club collapsed in the early 2000’s. In September 2023 I decided to re-form the club. I had been at another club, which had collapsed due to rising pitch fees and I had six 11-year-olds, including my son, who all wanted to play football, but all other clubs were full.
I decided to run the club as a not-for-profit organisation, allowing me to keep costs as low as possible for parents. We also have a hardship strategy so even if a child’s parents fall on hard times, we offer free spaces in our teams. Our first training session in September 2023 saw 11 children attend. We now have 130 footballers, across a range of age groups. We are proud that 35% of players in our groups are girls.
19 children in the UK suffer a cardiac event while playing football every week and the thought of this fills me with dread. There is no comparison with the immediate use of a defib vs CPR. Our nearest defib is at a local swimming baths. Our protocol involves the coach starting CPR, one parent to call the ambulance with the right details and location, another parent runs to collect the defib from the swimming baths. We have timed this and it would be over 15 minutes before the defib could be collected and deployed.
I cannot express a deep enough thanks to the ‘TAWG in the Community’ initiative for sending us a defibrillator. This will be accessible not only by Biggin Hill FC, but other users of the public recreational area. It is genuinely, a life-saving gesture.”
By donating a defibrillator, we’re helping the club prepare for emergencies and ensuring the safety of players, staff, and supporters. It’s a vital piece of equipment that could save lives, and we’re proud to support such an incredible community asset.
We hope this donation inspires others to think about how they can contribute to local clubs and organisations. Biggin Hill Football Club is a shining example of what makes communities strong, and we’re honoured to play a part in their journey.
General Manager Rob said:
“Our TAWG in the Community initiative has been a real joy to be part of this year. The defibrillator donations in particular have proved to be a real success, helping good causes and spreading vital lifesaving awareness. As well as donating 10 defibrillators this year, we have participated in a number of sponsored team events, as well as fundraising for various charities, and hosting our free First Aid open day. The particular highlight for me was winning the tug-of-war at the Roundhay Park Dragonboat Race, in aid of the wonderful Martin House children’s hospice. 2025 will be even better, with more ideas and incentives!”.
For more information on their organisation visit their website at www.bigginhillfc.com
