The Dorothy Parkes Centre would like to extend its sincere thanks to Councillor Kaur of Smethwick for a generous donation that has enabled us to restock the Community Bleed Kit located outside our entrance and accessible to all members of the community.

Staff at the Centre recently completed First Aid at Work training, during which it was identified that several items within the Community Bleed Kit were nearing their expiry dates. Following a visit to the Centre and a discussion with Centre Manager, Jodie Griffiths, Councillor Kaur very kindly offered to help by funding the replacement of this vital equipment.

Councillor Kaur said:

“As the local councillor for Smethwick, I wanted to give something back to the community. After being made aware by Jodie that some items in the Community Bleed Kit were nearing expiry, I offered to fund the replacement of this vital equipment using my Councillor allowance.

Bleed kits can save lives, and it is essential that they are always fully stocked and up to date. Supporting their upkeep is a practical way to help keep our community safe.

For me, as a Sikh, the principle of Seva, selfless service, is central to how I serve the community. Seva means helping others without distinction of faith or background, and this value guides my work as a Councillor.

I am proud to support initiatives that bring people together, protect lives, and strengthen our community.”

Robert Bruce, CEO of Dorothy Parkes Centre, added:

“We are extremely grateful to Cllr Kaur for this donation and for her continued support of the Centre and the work that we do. While we secured initial funding to install the Defibrillator and Bleed Kit outside our entrance for community use, we must ensure that equipment and supplies such as batteries, pads, wipes, and bandages are fully stocked and in date. Funding for this ongoing maintenance is often limited and usually comes from Centre reserves. This donation means our reserves can remain untouched and available for any unforeseen situations within the Centre.”

The Centre is proud to work alongside community leaders who share our commitment to safety, wellbeing, and supporting local people.