The first tranche of £325 was donated this month, and as work progresses at the development, a grand sum of £4,700 will be paid to St Andrew’s Hospice. This donation will support the hospice’s various in-patient and out-patient services.

St Andrew’s Hospice provides specialist palliative care to people living with life-limiting illnesses. Led by a consultant medical team, the hospice has 24 inpatient specialist palliative care beds, Outpatient and Wellbeing services, its Compassionate Lanarkshire community project, along with grief and bereavement support services. Its services are provided free of charge to the people of Lanarkshire.

Commenting on the support that it has received from Taylor Wimpey West Scotland, Lorna McCafferty - Trusts, Legacy and Individual Giving Manager of St Andrew’s Hospice, said: “We are extremely grateful for this first donation of £325 from Taylor Wimpey West Scotland, and we can’t thank them enough for their generous donation. This money will be put to work locally to help us deliver a range of projects to those who need the support of St Andrew’s Hospice. On behalf of everyone who uses our services, I would like to say a huge thank you.”

Audrey Ross, sales and marketing director at Taylor Wimpey West Scotland, said: “We are delighted to be able to support St Andrew’s Hospice in this meaningful way.

“Our first donation in this project provides a link between the new community that is emerging at our Calder Wynd development in Carnbroe, with the existing community of Coatbridge, Airdrie, and the wider North Lanarkshire area.

“Working with local charities and organisations surrounding our developments means a great deal to us, and working with St Andrew’s Hospice is a real honour, and we are extremely proud to show our support in this way.”

Meanwhile, in Winchburgh, Taylor Wimpey East Scotland has donated a public access defibrillator (PAD) to Winchburgh Community Growing Group, to benefit the community in the immediate local area.

This latest defibrillator has become the guardianship of the Winchburgh Community Growing Group. It is accessible 24 hours a day at their community garden in Auldcathie Park in Winchburgh Village, and the group will look after and maintain the equipment to ensure that it is available to anyone who needs it.

As part of a joint initiative with the British Heart Foundation (BHF), the homebuilder is donating potentially life-saving PADs to communities around the UK to help people who suffer from an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest.

During 2019, the BHF worked with Taylor Wimpey to train its employees in CPR skills and to provide every one of their building sites in the UK with a defibrillator. As part of its commitment to leaving a lasting legacy in the areas in which it builds, Taylor Wimpey is donating the defibrillators to local communities when their developments are completed.

Taylor Wimpey has also committed to ensuring all of its defibrillators are registered on The Circuit, the national defibrillator network, which is a joint venture from the British Heart Foundation, the Association of Ambulance Chief Executives, the Resuscitation Council UK and St John Ambulance. Data on defibrillators registered on The Circuit are visible on the despatch systems used by 999 call handlers. So, when a cardiac arrest occurs, the dispatcher can direct bystanders straight to the nearest defibrillator. This increases the chances of defibrillators being used quickly and significantly improves the chances of a successful resuscitation.

Peter Goldie, regional health, safety and environmental advisor for Taylor Wimpey East Scotland, said: “It’s so important to us that we give something back to the communities where we are building. Our partnership with the BHF is vitally important in helping to ensure that more defibrillators are available for people who might need them, and we are proud to be able to make this equipment readily accessible in Winchburgh.”

John West, who heads up Winchburgh Community Growing Group, added: “Along with everyone who accesses the community garden and the wider Auldcathie District Park, we are very grateful to Taylor Wimpey East Scotland for their generous gift of the defibrillator for the benefit of the club, its members and the wider community of our village.

“We are also delighted to have received financial support from the Winchburgh Development Trust to install a wind turbine that will provide power to the defibrillator and its cabinet, as well as our office and greenhouse facilities in the community garden.”

David McColgan, head of BHF Scotland, said: “Every second counts when someone has a cardiac arrest, and we know that prompt CPR and defibrillation can double the chances of survival in some cases. Increasing the number of publicly accessible defibrillators in our communities – alongside more of us learning CPR skills – can play a vital role in these critical moments. That is why we are delighted that Taylor Wimpey has contributed to the aims of the BHF by making a public access defibrillator available in the Bathgate area as part of their wider local campaign. It could help save a life.”

Penny Lochhead, Winchburgh Development’s Community Sport and Greenspace Manager said: “We are delighted to have Taylor Wimpey East Scotland as such an engaged partner with the Winchburgh Growers, who have gone from strength to strength in the last 3 years. The support from Taylor Wimpey East Scotland demonstrates the commitment they have to the wider community wellbeing whilst developing new homes in our community.

“The renewable energy through the wind turbine and solar panels will ensure the lifesaving defibrillator is available at all times and also enhance the wider opportunities for the volunteers to offer more activities throughout the year.”