Monday 5th June 2016 – 4.20pm – Claire Brown.
Not one but two community first responder (CFR) groups in the West Midlands have received the most prestigious award a voluntary organisation can get.
FastAid Black Country CFRs and Eccleshall CFRs have been recognised with the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service for 2017 for providing emergency medical aid, training and lifesaving equipment to those living and working in their local community.
CFRs are members of the public from all walks of life who give up their spare time to help make a difference in their communities. They offer an invaluable service by way of helping to reach those people suffering from medical emergencies in the remote rural communities, prior to the arrival of an ambulance. For many illnesses or injuries, the first few minutes are critical and simple interventions can be performed in order to save lives or prevent disability. As well as providing care for people in their local area, the CFRs also spend a considerable amount of time teaching other people vital first aid and life-saving skills.
FastAid Black Country CFRs Carol Waite and her husband Ian Waite attended a garden party at Buckingham Palace on Thursday 1st June where they met the Queen and other winners of this year’s award. Speaking about the groups achievement, Trustee for FastAid Black Country, Carol Waite, said: “Receiving an award such as this is incredibly exciting and hugely rewarding. It’s lovely to know that our hard work and dedication has been recognised by the Queen.”
Martin Watson, Group Coordinator of Eccleshall CFRs, also attended Buckingham Palace last week and said: “We are absolutely delighted and honoured to have been given this award. It is clearly a testament to the efforts of all those involved in Eccleshall Community First Responders who voluntarily give their time to support the group either as a responder helping those in need of medical aid or as a fundraiser.”
WMAS Chief Executive, Anthony Marsh said: “I am immensely proud of both CFR groups for being honoured in this way. The role of our volunteers is incredibly important to the success of West Midlands Ambulance Service. You all do a fantastic job, I know many of you put in a tremendous amount of hours and you have all played a major part in making our ambulance service the best in the country, for which I thank you. Many congratulations to you on this great achievement.”
Both CFR groups are set to receive their awards from the Lord Lieutenant later this year.
For more information about the groups, to make a donation or find out more about joining them, please go to: http://www.eccleshallcfrs.org.uk/ and www.fastaidblackcountry.org.uk/.
Note to Editors
Pictured: 1 – FastAid Black Country CFRs Carol Waite and Ian Waite at Buckingham Palace last week. 2 – Eccleshall CFR Group Coordinator Martin Watson next to the schemes car.
Ends