Supported Housing Schemes Equipped To Save Local Lives

We are incredibly proud to be partnering with Karbon Homes to install life-saving defibrillators across all 38 of their over-55s housing schemes throughout the North East.

Thanks to £34,000 of funding through Karbon’s Unlocking Social Value Fund, alongside £28,000 match funding from Red Sky Foundation. This is another example of how the vital funds raised through our Red Sky supporters are directly reinvested back into communities to help save lives.

This project will provide publicly accessible defibrillators to communities stretching from Middlesbrough to Northumberland – helping to ensure that more people have access to potentially life-saving equipment in an emergency.

Every minute matters during a cardiac arrest, and having a defibrillator nearby can dramatically increase a person’s chance of survival. A defibrillator can restart the heart during a sudden cardiac arrest, helping to restore a normal heart rhythm while waiting for emergency services to arrive. In situations like this, every second truly matters. When a defibrillator is used within the first 3–5 minutes, survival rates can increase dramatically – from less than 10% to as high as 50–70%. That’s why partnerships like this are so important. 

We’re delighted that Karbon Homes has listened to requests from residents and taken proactive steps to support both their customers and the wider community. Alongside the installation of the devices, colleagues across the housing schemes are also being trained and upskilled on how to use the equipment, helping to raise awareness and confidence within local communities.

The project will also see Karbon Homes become guardians of the defibrillators already installed across their supported housing schemes, ensuring each device is maintained, monitored and always ready should it ever be needed.

Residents have already shared how reassuring it is to know this equipment is available not only for those living within the schemes, but also for surrounding communities.

Jon McDonald, Head of Supported Housing at Karbon Homes, said:

“It’s brilliant to partner with the Red Sky Foundation to increase such vital support to so many people in the North East. All of our over 55s housing schemes and their surrounding communities can be reassured that a defibrillator is now on their doorstep, thanks to Days Fleet’s social value contribution.

“The roll-out of defibrillators at our extra-care and independent living schemes follows requests from our customers for this life-saving facility. As part of this important project, we are upskilling our on-site and community colleagues on how to use each device and raising awareness locally, so more people know where their closest defibrillator is.”

Sergio Petrucci MBE, Founder and CEO of Red Sky Foundation, said:

“It’s inspiring to see organisations like Karbon Homes taking such meaningful action to protect the health and wellbeing of both their residents and the wider community. Together, we are helping to create safer spaces and ultimately save lives. We’re looking forward to a long-lasting continued partnership.”

If your organisation would like to partner with Red Sky Foundation to help bring life-saving equipment and initiatives into your community, please contact the team at info@redskyfoundation.com.