Defibrillator Fund
Supporting clubs with life saving equipment.What is the Defibrillator Fund?
We are continuing to work with The Club Cricket Charity and The Community Heartbeat Trust whose fantastic scheme makes obtaining a defibrillator possible for local cricket clubs.
Whilst our hope that clubs will never have to use the equipment, there is only a five-minute period before permanent or irreversible damage can occur. With so little time to act, a defibrillator onsite can help mitigate an otherwise catastrophic situation.
The scheme offers cricket clubs the opportunity to purchase a heavily discounted Lifeline View Portable Defibrillator and Annual Support Package which includes, training, insurances, notification to local emergency services and post stress counselling.
The new Offer - 22 Not out
22 Not Out provides cricket clubs with the supply of a portable AED unit at a one-off cost of £100 and four annual payments of £151.20, as part of the Club Cricket Charity’s partnership with the ECB and Community Heartbeat Trust.
For this, your club can gain a portable defibrillator, insurance, maintenance, training and connection to the local emergency service and post-traumatic stress counselling.
As of November 2024, the Club Cricket Charity have deployed over 830 of these nationally, of which over 90 have been used to support those who suffer a cardiac arrest on the cricket field. However, only 10% of clubs in England & Wales have taken up the offer to ensure they have access to a life-saving defibrillator.
Awareness of the signs of cardiac arrest, what to do if something were to happen, and using a defibrillator could be the difference between someone surviving or dying, meaning this is a project the Gloucestershire Cricket Foundation fully supports.
To provide further support to clubs, the Community Heartbeat Trust has developed this downloadable guide to print and put up within your club.
For further information and to request an order form, please contact Donna Black at the Club Cricket Charity.
What if my club cannot afford a Defibrillator?
The National Asian Cricket Council (NACC) are one organisation that has made defibrillators an important part of their outreach and have facilitated the delivery of over 100 defibrillators to the South Asian cricketing community in England & Wales at no cost.
In addition, for current or new cricket club sponsors, it would be a tangible investment in a live-saving piece of equipment. It doesn’t get more community-minded than that. The Community Heartbeat Trust also has advice and resources to help clubs to raise funds locally.
If your club would like a defibrillator but is struggling to cover the costs, please get in touch with Harry Watts to seek further advice.
Harry Watts / Club Development Manager
Harry joined the team in August 2022 as our Urban Development Officer and was initially responsible for growing the game of cricket in the urban areas of Bristol and Gloucester. In April 2024, Harry was promoted to Club Development Manager where he now delivers on a number of ECB priority areas including Facility Development, Clubmark, as well as working with Local Authorities on their Playing Pitch Strategies.
In 2018, Harry graduated from Swansea University with a degree in Media & Communications and later gained a PGCE in Primary Education from UWE, having spent multiple years working in primary schools. At his local club, Thornbury CC, Harry supports in different areas, including being an emergency player when required!
Now in his exciting role as Club Development Manager, he is responsible for leading the team of club development staff and working closely with cricket clubs across the county to provide direct support with the aim of creating sustainable clubs for the future. Furthermore, Harry leads youth competitions and the ECB Clubmark Accreditation and sits on a number of GCF Development Groups and Committees.
As a local Bristolian, Harry is a Bristol Rovers supporter and is a big all-round sports fan.