Tuesday 8th April 2014 – 4.00pm – Claire Brown.
A group of volunteer life-savers in the Black Country were presented with a prestigious award from the Mayor of Dudley at a ceremony last week.
More than 150 people packed into the Copthorne Hotel in Brierley Hill on Friday 4th April, for the civic ceremony where the Mayor of Dudley, Cllr Alan Finch, presented awards to ‘community heroes’ from across the borough.
Fastaid Black Country Community First Responders (CFRs), a group of volunteers who respond to 999 calls in their local community and provide care until the ambulance service arrives, won the prestigious Mayor’s Civic Award. The group were one of four nominees put forward for the award category and received the most online votes from the public.
Carol Waite, Fastaid Black Country Chair, said: “The charity was nominated by the Mayor and the public then voted for us to win which I think is something we should all be proud of and shows that we are highly valued by the public. It is only down to you guys out there in the community that makes it possible for us to be nominated and win the award and for that, thank you.”
Councillor Alan Finch, Mayor of Dudley, said: “It was a fantastic night and such an honour and a privilege to meet the people who make our communities tick. I would like to congratulate all our community heroes for the work they do across the borough, helping to make Dudley borough a great place to live.”
Andy Jeynes, the Trust’s Birmingham and the Black Country Community Response Manager, said: “People are always surprised to hear that CFRs are volunteers who give up their spare time, often when they’ve finished their normal day job, to respond to 999 calls to help the ambulance service. This award proves that their hard work and commitment to their local community is appreciated by the public in the Black Country. Fastaid Black Country CFRs should be very proud, this is an excellent achievement. Well done!”
ENDS
Notes to Editor:
Photographs courtesy of Dudley Metropolitan Borough Council.
Pictured above: Carol Waite (Fastaid Black Country CFR Chair) with Cllr Alan Finch Mayor of Dudley.
Pictured below (left to right): Martin Dews (sponsor Cougar Monitoring), Carol Waite (Fastaid Black Country CFR Chair person), Richard Smith (CFR), Mayor of Dudley Cllr Alan Finch, Paul Grove (CFR), Dave Hubball (CFR) and Martin Griffiths (CFR).
