The Kilpatrick Fraser Charitable Trust (KFCT) has been supporting the supply of defibrillators to community football clubs across Scotland via The SFP Trust since 2019. A total of 72 clubs have now received this crucial piece of equipment thanks to their fantastic generosity. In 2022, 20 grassroots clubs were awarded defibrillators from this scheme, many of whom had taken over football pitches and pavilions via Community Asset Transfers from their local councils. Clubs nowadays not only deliver activity for their own players but also provide a base for the wider community. As well as protecting the health of individual players and coaches, these defibrillators also safeguard the wellbeing of visiting parents and grandparents and the many community members who use club facilities on a weekly basis from local dance and gym groups to walking football.
Research shows that by administering defibrillation within 3 to 5 minutes of collapse can produce better survival rates, as high as 50-70%. Having access to a defibrillator in an emergency can be lifesaving, especially in rural areas when ambulance response times may be longer.
This year, the SFP Trust has been able to purchase a further 12 defibrillators with the support of the KFCT, which will bring the total number of defibs awarded to 80.
Beith Juniors Community F.C. were recently gifted a defibrillator from this initiative to help safeguard the wellbeing of the hundreds of weekly participants and visitors to Bellsdale Park in the town. Colin Hunter from Beith Juniors commented “On behalf of everyone involved in the club, could I thank the SFP Trust and The Kilpatrick Fraser Charitable Trust for this defibrillator which will be based in our clubhouse. We know first-hand that this equipment can save lives and we are delighted to have been selected as one of the clubs to receive this vital piece of equipment.”