Welsh Ambulance Service celebrates volunteers as part of Volunteers' Week
02.06.2025
The Welsh Ambulance Service has paid tribute to its volunteers for Volunteers’ Week.
Volunteers’ Week (02-08 June) is an annual celebration of the contribution that millions of people make across the UK through volunteering.
Almost 700 volunteers give up their time to support the ambulance service in Wales, including 353 Community First Responders, 128 Community Welfare Responders and 160 Volunteer Car Service Drivers.
Lee Brooks, the Trust’s Executive Director of Operations, said: “Volunteers are an essential part of the Welsh Ambulance Service.
“Their commitment and generosity directly impact thousands of patients every year, and we simply couldn’t do what we do without them.
“Volunteers’ Week is a wonderful chance to recognise their incredible efforts, to celebrate the time and energy they selflessly give, and to thank them publicly for their continued support of their local communities.”
Among the volunteering opportunities at the Welsh Ambulance Service is the role of Community First Responders (CFRs).
CFRs attend 999 calls in their community and administer treatment in the precious first minutes of a medical emergency.
They are trained by the Welsh Ambulance Service to administer first aid, including oxygen therapy and cardiopulmonary resuscitation, as well as the use of a defibrillator.
In 2024/25, CFRs attended more than 10,841 emergencies in Wales.
Two years ago, in a UK NHS ambulance service first, CFRs also were trained to administer Methoxyflurane, or Penthrox, a fast-acting drug used to reduce pain in patients with a traumatic injury like a fracture, dislocation, severe laceration or burns.
Ben Kirkham, 50, who is based in Colwyn Bay, has been a qualified CFR since November 2016 and combines his role with his full-time job as an occupational therapist in the north Wales area.
Over almost nine years of volunteering, Ben has become an important member of the Colwyn Bay team of volunteers where he acts as coordinator for the team and also sits on the ambulance services’ Volunteer Steering Group.
Ben said: “I wanted to do something for the community first of all, something that felt like I was making a tangible difference.
“I heard about the CFR role through a colleague at work and realised that as an occupational therapist, I was used to going into people’s homes to assess their needs so I already had transferrable skills that would help with the role.
“I appreciate that as a CFR, it’s different, because we often see people when they are at their lowest or in real distress, but my full-time job definitely helped.
“I’ve learned so much as a CFR and continue to learn as our scope of practice develops to meet the demands of the role.
“To anyone thinking of volunteering I would say just go for it, it’s such a worthwhile thing to do.
“Yes, there are tough times and some difficult incidents, but for some patients, just having someone there with them can make all the difference, regardless of whether you are a volunteer, paramedic or other health professional.”
Another position is the Community Welfare Responder (CWR) role.
CWRs are volunteers who attend incidents which are not immediately life-threatening, to provide live, real-time observations and information to the Trust’s control rooms, including temperature, blood pressure and heart rate so that the patient can be monitored remotely by clinicians.
Among those taking up this new role is Jackie Hatton-Bell, one of the 128 CWRs the Trust currently has volunteering in this position.
Jackie, 53, of Narberth, Pembrokeshire, is a former HR consultant and financial advisor who, after selling her successful business in 2019, found that she still had plenty to offer her local community.
Jackie, who joined in 2024 and who also sits on the Volunteer Steering Group, said: “I absolutely love what I do as no two incidents are ever the same and being able to get out into my local community to help others really makes me feel like my time is being well spent.
“I can pick and choose when I go on shift and can easily fit the role in around any plans or commitments I have elsewhere.
“It has really inspired me, and I honestly think that if I’d discovered something like this twenty years ago, I would have given serious thought to changing careers and maybe becoming a paramedic.”
Recruitment and training of CWRs is supported jointly by NHS Charities Together and the Welsh Ambulance Service Charity, equipping CWRs to attend 1,045 incidents in the last year alone.
In addition to responding to emergency calls, volunteers also play vital roles in other areas, such as the Volunteer Car Service (VCS).
The Volunteer Car Service is made up of a team of dedicated volunteer drivers across Wales, who use their own vehicles to transport patients to and from hospital appointments, such as renal dialysis, oncology and outpatients' appointments.
Last year, VCS drivers covered an incredible 1,426,165 miles between them, completing 45,557 journeys, an average of 8,914 miles per volunteer driver.
Among them is John Mackie, 56, of Rossett, Wrexham.
John, who is originally from Glasgow, spent 32 years working for frozen food retailer Iceland, and was on the board of directors at the company before taking early retirement.
He now spends his time volunteering, travelling in his motorhome and keeping fit at the gym where he works out four or five times a week.
John said: “It all started for me after my father was diagnosed with cancer and I was taking him to and from the hospital for appointments and treatment.
“I could see other patients in the waiting room who were waiting to be taken home and after seeing a post on social media about the VCS, it all fell into place, and I applied immediately.
“I can honestly say it’s one of the best things I have ever done, and it really is a rewarding role as I get to help people who are going through a very difficult time, just like my father was.
“It’s so flexible and I can easily fit it in around my other hobbies and interests.
“I give three days a week to being a VCS Driver and I would encourage other people who have the spare time and a vehicle to consider becoming a volunteer.”
Gareth Parry, Operations Manager, Volunteering and Community Resilience, said: “Our fantastic volunteers play a vital role in supporting the Trust, offering their time, skills, and compassion to strengthen patient care.
“Their dedication ensures our service continues to provide the highest level of support to communities.
“In return, they take on a challenging and highly rewarding role, becoming a vital part of #TeamWAST, while making a meaningful difference in people's lives.
“This Volunteers’ Week, we celebrate and thank them for their invaluable contributions across Wales.”
For more information on volunteering for the Welsh Ambulance Service, visit: Volunteer For Us - Welsh Ambulance Services University NHS Trust