Three Shires Hospital raises over £11,000 for OurJay Foundation
Three Shires Hospital, part of Circle Health Group, has raised over £11,910.94 for the OurJay Foundation, supporting the charity’s work to increase the number of 24/7 publicly accessible automated external defibrillators available to communities.
All funds raised by staff and doctors at the 49-bed private hospital will go directly to purchase install defibrillators across Northamptonshire and Warwickshire.
The OurJay Foundation was founded in January 2022 following the tragic death of Jamie Rees who suffered a cardiac arrest. Founded in his memory, the charity campaigns for and to provide CPR/AED training in communities, alongside raising money to purchase 24/7 accessible defibrillators to be installed in public areas and community spaces.
Since forming, the charity has so far raised £250,000 and installed 129 accessible defibrillators, with 15 more waiting to be installed across Warwickshire. The charity’s work is vital as cardiac arrest can impact anyone, anywhere and at any time. A defibrillator can drastically increase the chance of a person's survival by up to 70% if it is available within 8 minutes. The OurJay Foundation intend to install hundreds more in the coming months and years.
Staff and doctors at Three Shires Hospital in Northampton partnered with the charity in 2025, committed to ensuring that Northampton and the communities served by the hospital, were able to have a defibrillator installed. As a healthcare provider, the hospital knew first-hand the importance of the charity’s work and organised ten fundraising events throughout 2025. From bake sales to tombola's and even a treasure hunt, staff and doctors came up with various ideas to raise money for the Charity. The physiotherapy team walked, ran and even cycled the distance from Three Shires Hospital to Rugby and back 18 times. Additionally, two signed sports shirts were donated as auction lots to the charity’s fundraising ball.
Bringing together staff, doctors and visitors to the hospital, the team at Three Shires Hospital have raised over £11,000 with additional support from Circle Health Group’s ‘Giving Something Back’ programme, taking the total to £11,910.94. Launched in 2021, the ‘Giving Something Back’ programme encourages all 54 of Circle’s hospitals to partner with a charity in their community, with all funds raised by the hospital, then matched by Circle Health Group centrally by up to £2,500.
The money raised by Three Shires Hospital will be able to pay for up to 8 accessible defibrillators or at least 5 CPR/Defib information/awareness sessions. The hospital hopes that lives will be saved as a result of their work with the OurJay Foundation.
Naomi Rees, Chair of the OurJay Foundation said: “All of us at OurJay Foundation are so grateful for this amazing donation, that has been raised, by Three Shires Hospital staff, through fundraising events during 2025. These funds will have a huge impact on the work we are able to do in communities across Northamptonshire and Warwickshire. We'd like to say a big thank you to everyone who has been involved in any of the events that have achieved such a wonderful donation. On a personal note, we'd also like to say thank you for making us feel so welcome during our visits to Three Shires, your kindness has been truly so helpful in what we are trying to achieve.”
Matthew Cook, Executive Director of Three Shires Hospital said: “The OurJay Foundation work tirelessly to ensure that defibrillators are accessible and ready to use when needed across our communities. As a healthcare provider, we know first-hand the difference it makes in a cardiac arrest situation to have defibrillator available. We are delighted to be presenting the charity with a cheque for over £11,000 which will go directly towards supporting their vital work.”