Smalley Court residents pictured with Darren Ennis, Leader of Burntwood Town Council, Aaron and Mark from Burntwood Town Councils’ Response and Repair Team, cleaner Hazel and Local Housing Manager Gareth Davies.  

Residents at Housing 21’s Retirement Living Scheme, Smalley Court in Burntwood have demonstrated the power of community by coming together to fundraise for a public-access defibrillator.  

The project was sparked by a conversation between a resident and the scheme's Local Housing Manager about the critical importance of defibrillators and the lack of one nearby. 

Gareth Davies, Local Housing Manager at the scheme said: “When I discovered that the nearest defibrillator was a nine minute walk away, in a hilly area, I realised that the chances of someone reaching it in time were slim. 

“Our area has a predominantly older population, and I felt strongly that we needed one close by.” 

The idea to fundraise for a defibrillator was proposed at a residents’ meeting in March this year and received overwhelming support. This was followed by a creative campaign fuelled by dedication and community spirit where residents organised coffee mornings, table top sales, quiz afternoons, raffles, and afternoon teas.  

Support also poured in from the wider community, including fundraising efforts by groups using the communal lounge and a raffle organised by a resident’s daughter, featuring generous prizes from local businesses. 

Burntwood Town Council offered to procure the defibrillator at a discounted rate, install it free of charge, and cover future maintenance and servicing costs. 

The target was reached in October, and the defibrillator was installed the following month.  

The residents at the Retirement Living scheme are proud of their involvement in the campaign. 

Dawn, a resident at Smalley Court said: “This has brought us together and brought comfort knowing the defibrillator is there if someone needs it.” 

Another resident, Harold said: “These defibrillators save lives—it’s the best thing we’ve ever done,” 

The success of this initiative highlights the power of collective action, the residents at Smalley Court have set an inspiring example of how communities can come together to create impact. 

Find out more about the Retirement Living scheme on the website: Housing 21 - Smalley Court