Bristol Junior Chamber has raised over £1,400 to support local homelessness charity Emmaus Bristol in its bid to secure a defibrillator in Stokes Croft.
Young professionals’ networking organisation Bristol Junior Chamber (BJC) has raised over £1,400 for Emmaus Bristol, one of hundreds of Emmaus charities across the world. The money raised will go towards a defibrillator for the Stokes Croft area and the associated training.
Emmaus Bristol helps people in the city and the surrounding areas out of poverty and homelessness, providing a home, support, training and work experience for formerly homeless men and women, as well as family homes for those in housing need and move-on homes.
The charity has been fundraising for a defibrillator in Stokes Croft, an area of Bristol that serves as a hub for the homeless. In the UK, only 10% of people who suffer cardiac arrest outside of a hospital survive, partly because CPR and defibrillation are not started quickly enough. In 2021, there were an estimated 28 deaths of homeless people in Bristol. Emmaus Bristol’s fundraising mission is set to provide access to a potentially life-saving defibrillator in an underserved area of the city.
BJC raised money to support the charity’s mission through a raffle held at its 2022 Annual Dinner which took place at Ashton Gate Stadium on Friday 4th March.
On the fundraising effort, former BJC President Daniel St Quintin says: “It was the first time in two years that our Annual Dinner was able to go ahead following the Covid-19 pandemic, so we’re absolutely delighted that our members and guests were able to come together and raise money to support Emmaus Bristol and such an important cause.”
Fran Blishen, Support Team Manager at Emmaus Bristol, says: “At Emmaus Bristol residents who have experienced homelessness and the Emmaus Bristol staff team have been doing fitness challenges over the winter to raise money for a defibrillator. It has been a challenge doing this throughout the cold, dark months, but we’ve had great support from the local community with individual donations, and we are so pleased that Bristol Junior Chamber has donated over £1,400. The fact that we can install lifesaving equipment for the Stokes Croft area is amazing.”
BJC is a networking organisation with a large and diverse membership of young professionals from many of the key firms and organisations within the city and region. Since its inception in 1948, it has been at the forefront of many major projects and enterprises, including the internationally renowned Bristol Balloon Fiesta. It has a firmly established reputation as one of the leading organisations for young professionals within the city.
Please get in touch with Rebecca Stanton, BJC Chair of Charity, for further information.