Using a defibrillator within three minutes of a cardiac arrest can improve a person's chance of survival by as much as 70%. Cardiac arrests can happen to anyone, but too many people aren't given a chance because there isn't a defibrillator nearby.

Action Hampshire a local charity based in central Winchester, on the corner of Staple Gardens and the High Street. We noticed there is a lack of community access defibrillators in our area, so we've decided to crowdfund to buy one to put on the outside of our building for other local businesses and the general public to use in an emergency and help save lives.

Community access defibrillators are registered with the ambulance service. When someone in the area calls 999 and describes cardiac arrest symptoms, the operator will give them directions to our defibrillator and a code to unlock the cabinet. The operator will then talk the caller through the process of using CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation) and the defibrillator.

We'd really appreciate any money you're able to give to help us meet our target of £1,500 by 30 September 2017. Once we've got the defibrillator in place, we'll make sure the local media get to hear about it, and which businesses have contributed to the fundraising.

Feel free to contact Rosie Taylor if you have any questions, email rosie.taylor@actionhampshire.org or tel 01962 854971.