A GROUP of life-saving volunteers have received a prestigious award to recognise the work they do in the Essex community.
The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service is the highest award given to volunteer groups across the UK to recognise outstanding work done in their own communities.
The awarding office told the group the following in a letter: “The work your group does for the community was very much admired by the independent Assessment Committee, chaired by Sir Martyn Lewis CBE and I am delighted to inform you that your group has been selected as a recipient for The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service (QAVS) 2018.
“The award of The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service 2018 represents a tremendous achievement for your organisation. We hope that everyone involved, and particularly your volunteers, feel immensely proud of the recognition that this Award represents.”
Group coordinator Sue Wilsdon said the volunteers were thrilled when they found out they were to receive such a coveted award. She explained: “The group has been running for 11 years and has grown in strength. In recent years we have been give an additional call sign and area in the community to cover. The group provides several hundred voluntary hours every month responding to 999 calls, alongside being committed to teaching the local community CPR and life support skills.
“In the last year we have taught several hundred schoolchildren, fire service staff and FireBreak cadets, Scouts, bowling clubs and numerous community groups these skills and even have groups booked in for 2019.”
The presentation, which was made by The Lord Lieutenant of Essex, Mrs Jennifer Tolhurst on behalf of Her Majesty the Queen, was held at Tilbury Community Association Function Suite and was attended by 70 people.
Karl Edwards, Deputy Director of Service Delivery at The East of England Ambulance Service NHS Trust, added: “I was proud and honoured to attend the event and see them presented with this much-deserved award. Well done and congratulations to an amazing group of volunteers. Thank you for your dedication on behalf of the Trust and our patients.”
If you would like to become a community first responder, find out more here: https://www.eastamb.nhs.uk/join-the-team/community-first-responders
