How Little Sunflowers came together to fund a defibrillator for the nursery – and the local community
At Little Sunflowers, we’ve always believed in nurturing children through love, learning, and real-world experiences – but our latest achievement goes far beyond education.
Thanks to the generosity and determination of our families, staff, and local supporters, we’re proud to share that a defibrillator has now been installed on the outside of our nursery. This lifesaving piece of equipment will be available not only to us, but to the wider community.
From Training to Action
The idea first came about when several of our team members renewed their paediatric first aid training. As Deputy Manager Claire explained:
“It really shone a light on how important a defib could be. That was brought home even more after we had to administer an epipen to a child experiencing a severe allergic reaction. The 999 operator advised us to get the nearest defibrillator – but it was a drive away. Thankfully, we didn’t need it, but it made us realise that every minute can make a difference.”
Fundraising with Purpose
We set up a JustGiving page with an initial target of £750, with the reassurance that our group’s co-founders, Luke and Paul, would top up the rest. The link was shared with parents, staff, family, and friends – and within just three days, we’d hit our target.
Encouraged by the momentum, we raised the goal to £1,000 and tied the fundraiser to our “People Who Help Us” week. Parents working as dentists, nurses, vets, police officers, and doctors visited the children to talk about their jobs and the important role they play in the community. The hands-on experiences were a hit – especially the police car, where children could try on hats, listen to the siren, and sit in the driver’s seat.
By the end of just over two weeks, the total raised was £1,144.88, with a significant contribution from local business Central Waste Oils.
A Grandad’s Gift
One special contribution came from Central Waste Oils in Walsall, after staff member Harriet mentioned the fundraiser to her grandad, who works with the company.
“He told me they regularly make charitable donations and wanted to help,” Harriet said. “It makes me really proud to see what we’ve achieved by pulling together – and my grandad’s company’s generosity is greatly appreciated.”
A Helping Hand to Make it Happen
When it came to installing the defibrillator, one of our parents, Craig Jones, whose daughter attends Little Sunflowers, kindly stepped in. As a qualified electrician, Craig offered to fit the equipment free of charge.
“I wanted to help the local community by offering my time and skills to fit the defib,” Craig said. “Hopefully other people will see this and be inspired to help where they can too.”
His support meant the defibrillator was not only purchased but installed quickly and safely, ready for use.
Why It Matters
Luke Moore, Co-Founder of The Little Nurseries Group, shared why this project is so close to our hearts:
“Having a defibrillator on site isn’t just a sensible precaution – it could one day save a life. One of our co-founders’ family members sadly passed away at a young age from a sudden heart attack. While we’ll never know if a defibrillator might have changed the outcome, it underlines why access to this equipment matters so much.
We’re incredibly proud of the Little Sunflowers team and families for launching this fundraiser and delighted we could help bring it across the finish line.”
More Than a Nursery
The defibrillator is now installed on an exterior wall, accessible to both nursery staff and the public. For us, it’s more than just equipment – it’s a lasting symbol of community, preparedness, and care.
“We’re just so grateful,” Claire added. “The generosity of our parents and staff means the world to us. It’s so reassuring to know that alongside our training, we now have something that could help save a life – not just here at the nursery, but in our local community too.”
