A LIFESAVING charity has been given a £900 funding boost today [Wednesday 19].

As part of the Co-op's membership scheme, a total of £47,000 will be shared across 20 good causes in the area.

That includes money for Walney Island Community First Responders, whose volunteers serve as part of the North West Ambulance Service.

Gayle Scott, a volunteer with the group, said: "We have fundraised to provide 15 defibrillators on Walney and we also do heartstart courses on Walney and in the Furness area.

"We are very grateful for the £900 from the Co-op and its members. We will be using the money to purchase a defibrillator for St Mary's Church on Walney.

The group of volunteers are called out to certain medical emergencies on Walney and in Barrow. They operate under the umbrella of the North West Ambulance Service.

Their fundraising efforts to provide the defibrillators has given residents and visitors 24-hour access, meaning most of the island is within four minutes of lifesaving equipment.

The group is one of 20 in Barrow to benefit from the funding boost from Co-op.

It comes from their membership scheme, launched in September 2016.

The scheme works by rewarding members for buying Co-op's own-brand products in-store, or organising a funeral through the company's Funeralcare.

While the members earn themselves a five per cent reward, a further one per cent is given to good causes in the area, along with money raised from the carrier bag charge.

In the Barrow area, this has raised £47,112.

Rufus Olins, chief membership officer, said: "The Co-op has always been community focused.

"The original Rochdale Pioneers were motivated by the need to improve the living conditions of those within their local community and they also understood the values that were just as important as value.

"By listening to our members we are able to identify what communities care most about and then offer them support that really makes a difference.

"By working with and supporting local good causes great things are happening."

The Walney Island Community First Responders were honoured with a national award in 2015 for their efforts. They were named Community Responder of the Year at the Heart Safe Awards.

At the time, a spokesman for the group said: "Our vision is to have a community enabled and confident to use lifesaving skills and to have available the equipment to make that difference."

The team was established in 2009 but has been operating live since 2010, providing 24/7, 365 days a year cover for Walney.