We are delighted that a piece of life saving equipment has been installed at our Theatre, the Players Theatre, situated on Battery Green Road.
A defibrillator, costing £1500, was provided by the DHSC (Department of Health and Social Care) Community AED (Automated External Defibrillator) Grant Team. It was partly funded by DHSC with match funding from Lowestoft Town Council.
Defibrillators are devices that apply an electric charge or current to the heart to restore a normal heartbeat if the heart rhythm stops due to cardiac arrest. The piece of equipment may help the heart start beating again. No training is required to use a defibrillator as the high-tech machine “talks” to the user to provide full operating instructions.
Melanie Wright, Fundraiser for the Lowestoft Players explained:
“I approached Lowestoft Town Council for the match funding and, to my delight they were very pleased to support us.
Melanie Wright, Fundraiser for The Lowestoft Players with the newly installed Defibrillator at the Players Theatre, Lowestoft. Image Martin Wilson
The defibrillator has been installed on the external front wall of the Theatre, so anyone in the vicinity will be able to use it at any time of the day or night.”
Miss Wright has been with the Lowestoft Players since 2023, after responding to a plea for somebody to deal with grant applications.
Prior to becoming involved with the society she worked for NatWest for 19 years before leaving to become a Chartered Accountant at Lovewell Blake. She retired in 2022.
Since retiring Miss Wright was instrumental in arranging the refurbishment of the children's playpark in Blundeston, where she lives, and part of that process was to apply for grants to fund the work. She was successful in obtaining just over £50k in grants which funded the majority of the project so when she saw that The Players were asking for help she decided to offer her services!
A spokesperson for the Players Theatre said
“Applying for grants is a detailed, lengthy and time consuming process. We are exceptionally grateful for all that Melanie is doing for us. The installation of the defibrillator is a most welcome addition for our theatre and the town.”
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