Local homebuilder Barratt David Wilson Homes Exeter has generously donated £1,500 to Jay’s Aim, a Devon-based charity dedicated to preventing sudden cardiac arrest in young people across the South West. This contribution will support the charity’s vital efforts in raising awareness of heartconditions, making publicly accessible defibrillators (defibs) available and providing life-saving CPR and defib training in community spaces and schools.
It is estimated that 12 people below the age of 35 die every week in the UK from undiagnosed heart conditions, many of them with no prior symptoms. Since 2018, Jay’s Aim has been on a mission to reduce this number.
The charity was established in memory of Jay Osbourne, who tragically passed away at the age of 28 while on a run in June 2017, on his first Father’s Day. Founded by Jay’s family, originally from Bude, the charity has expanded its reach from Cornwall and Devon throughout the entire South West region.
Jay’s Aim is unique in its dual focus on both the installation of defibs and the provision of comprehensive training. The charity employs several trainers who conduct sessions in schools and community spaces, ensuring that anyone interested can learn these critical skills. Their training programs are highly accessible, offering 35 CPR dummies for individual practice and scheduling sessions at convenient times, such as after sports training.
Dan Osborne, Charity Manager at Jay’s Aim, said: “We are immensely grateful to Barratt David Wilson Homes Exeter for this generous donation and to everyone who supports our mission. Our goal is to ensure that anyone can access our training and that defibs are available where they are needed most. We were proud to announce our 200th defib installation in April and a total of nearly 20,000 people trained in life-saving skills.”
The £1,500 donation from Barratt David Wilson Homes Exeter will provide essential unrestricted funds to the charity, allowing Jay’s Aim to cover day-to-day operational costs and enhance their outreach and training programmes.
“Supporting local initiatives like Jay’s Aim is incredibly important to us,” said Nicki Reid, Sales Director at Barratt David Wilson Homes Exeter. “We are proud to contribute to a cause that not only saves lives but also empowers our community with essential life-saving skills.”
In the UK, the survival rate for out-of-hospital cardiac arrests is a mere 6%, compared to 40% in Norway, where CPR is part of the national curriculum. Immediate CPR and defib use within the first five minutes can increase survival rates to 74%. Jay’s Aim is working with the South Western Ambulance Service and the Peninsula Cardiologist Network to improve survival chances, particularly in areas of deprivation where access to defibs and bystander intervention is less common.
For more information about Jay’s Aim, to book a training session, or to apply for a defib, please visit www.jaysaim.co.uk.
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