Funding helps Drimnin prepare for emergencies
Residents of Drimnin on Morvern have transformed their village hall into an emergency response hub thanks to funding from Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks (SSEN).
Drimnin Village Hall has installed an automated external defibrillator (AED) and back-up generator and is delivering First Aid training to improve the resilience of the local community, thanks to an award of £3,159 from SSEN’s Resilient Communities Fund.
With the nearest doctor’s surgery 11 miles away at Lochaline, the village hall committee applied to the fund to increase the resilience of the rural, isolated community.
Committee member Gill Foulis said: ‘We are happy the fund has helped to enhance the welfare of all members of our remote community, particularly those who are vulnerable due to age, ill health or other issues. We have our AED in place and have had a first aid course.’
Graeme Stewart of SSEN added: ‘We are delighted to support Drimnin Village Hall Committee with funding to provide a defibrillator, generator and support First Aid training for the local community.
‘The fund is vital to help communities better prepare for times of emergency, with some of the more remote and rural parts of our region proving difficult for emergency services to reach.’
Drimnin’s new defibrillator will help village residents during emergencies until the Scottish Ambulance Service and NHS services can attend.
The generator will help members of the community support others by providing emergency power for heating, water and maintaining essential food stocks in the remote location. The generator will also help turn the hall into a resilience centre by providing warm food, light, heat and methods of communication during power or communication cuts in the area.