For nearly 20 years, The Charlie Ramsey Research Fund has supported local communities through fundraising and awareness work, while Streetly Phonebox - The Exchange has helped strengthen community support since launching in 2020.
Together, the two organisations help improve access to lifesaving equipment across the Streetly and Sutton Coldfield area.
They currently act as guardians for 11 public access defibrillators, including a recently installed unit in Olton, Solihull, placed in memory of friend and supporter Claire Sherwood. Nine of the devices have been funded directly through community fundraising.
Alongside fundraising for new installations, the group continues to raise money for the ongoing upkeep and replacement of equipment. Everything they do is driven by a simple aim - making sure local people can access lifesaving equipment quickly when it is needed most.
As defibrillator guardians, volunteers carry out regular checks on each device to ensure they remain rescue ready. This includes checking batteries, pads and expiry dates. The group also updates The Circuit after every inspection so emergency services have accurate information about device availability.
Alongside maintaining the equipment, the volunteers also run free community sessions to help people feel more confident using defibrillators and giving CPR in an emergency. All of this work is carried out voluntarily alongside full-time jobs, with volunteers continuing to fundraise to maintain existing devices and support future installations.