A life saving charity which has been installing defibrillators throughout our community has been honoured at the 2024 Grand Pride Of Sefton Awards.
Southport Saviours was a Finalist in the Community Impact Award sponsored by Carlsberg.
The charity was set up by three local Southport residents in May 2023; Richard Moore, Nay Williams and Emma Caunce.
In February 2024 they expanded to take on a further two trustees, Mike Hornby and Sam Meredith.
It was founded by Naomi Steel in 2023 and has grown as a registered charity since.
They all have connections to heart attacks, cardiac arrest and life saving defibrillators, and see the need first hand for these machines. They save lives.
The sole aim of the Southport Saviours is to ensure that we have 24 hour accessible defibrillators in our community and they do this through hard work and fundraising.
So far they have supplied and fitted more than 10 defibrillators and trained numerous people in basic first aid and defibrillator use.
Among their fundraising efforts was running the Southport Mad Dog 10k in February as a wedding party.
Once a defibrillator is installed they then do regular checks to ensure all is in working order.
The trustees all have their own stories as to why they are so passionate about the need in the community.
They spend all of their free time fundraising and training local people in first aid.
There are more than 30,000 out-of-hospital cardiac arrests (OHCAs) in the UK each year.
The overall survival rate in the UK is less than one in ten.
Southport Saviours aims to increase the survival rate through training & the installation of 24 hour accessible defibrillators in the local community.
Photo by Andrew Brown Arena PR
The 2024 Pride Of Sefton Awards saw 13 categories on the night at The Grand in Southport, with incredible stories behind all the finalists.
There were over 1,300 nominations for community figures from Southport, Bootle, Crosby, Formby, Maghull and across Sefton.
The Grand Pride Of Sefton Awards were organised by Mikhail Hotel and Leisure Group and Stand Up For Southport in association with media partners In Demand Radio.
The night was hosted by In Demand Radio presenter Claire Simmo, with entertainment from Whitney Houston tribute performer Michelle Lawson, soul singer Dave Broe and DJ Baz Todd.
As Sefton celebrates its 50th birthday, VIP guests attending the awards included Sefton Council Leader Cllr Marion Atkinson; Mayor of Sefton Cllr June Burns; and council Chief Executive Phil Porter.
Also enjoying the evening were boxing world title challenger Martin Murray and Liverpool FC legend Gary Gillespie.
Pictures on the night were taken by Kevin Brown Photography with videography by Zack Downey from ZED Productions.
Fundraising took place on the night with proceeds going to ICU Steps, the intensive care patient support charity.
- For more details about the Pride Of Sefton Awards please visit: www.prideofseftonawards.co.uk or email: standupforsouthport@gmail.com
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