Pontypridd’s MP thanks Tonyrefail residents for improving defibrillator access

Alex Davies-Jones, Member of Parliament for Pontypridd & Taff Ely, has thanked members of the Tonyrefail & Gilfach Goch Community Defibrillators group for their work in improving access to defibrillators locally.

The Tonyrefail & Gilfach Goch Community Defibrillators group was successfully nominated for the Member of Parliament’s Community Group award for their selfless work to help others in need.

The group, set up in 2016, aims to improve access to and awareness of defibrillators by fundraising to install new units and cabinets, and by providing training in using the equipment to thousands of people in Rhondda Cynon Taf over recent years.

A member of the group, Steven Davies, has recently been honoured by the Prime Minister and named as the United Kingdom’s 2,062th winner of the Points of Light award – a daily award which recognises outstanding individual volunteers for the exceptional service they have given to their community.

Speaking after a visit to the group on Friday evening, Alex Davies-Jones MP said:

“I’m so pleased to have been able to pop along and let members of the Tonyrefail & Gilfach Goch Community Defibrillators group that they were successfully nominated for my community group award.

“We are so lucky to have such a dedicated team of volunteers doing some incredible work in our community – from fundraising to purchase new defibrillators and cabinets to maintaining them and training others on how to use the equipment in an emergency, they work tirelessly to help others. I know their important work on access to defibrillators is genuinely saving lives.

“I’d also like to thank and congratulate Steven on his recent award. I know he is an inspiration for many others locally.”

Steven Davies, on behalf of the group, said:

“Most of us grew up in the villages of Tonyrefail & Gilfach Goch so we feel that we can give something back to the residents there.

“We are very glad that our local community supports the work that I and other volunteers do – it really does give us the sense of satisfaction which, in turn, enables us to continue.

“I am so lucky to work with such a committed group of people who are just as happy as I am to give their time up to help others who are in need.”