The Queen honours outstanding volunteer
group
Effingham & District Community
First Responders scheme have been announced as one of 130 winners
of The Queen's Award for Voluntary Service. The
MBE is for groups of volunteers who work in their local community
for the benefit of others .
Prestigious award
This prestigious UK National Honour recognises
outstanding voluntary contributions and sets the
national benchmark for excellence in volunteering, with the work of
those awarded being judged to be of the highest standard.
Effingham & District Community First
Responders scheme has received the Award for making the
difference between a life lost and a life saved to people
in East and West Horsley, Little and Great Bookham, Fetcham,
Leatherhead, Ockham, Ripley, Send, Cobham and Downside, Ranmore and
Givons Grove.
Speedy response saves lives
The scheme, which operates as a partnership
with the NHS, is run by Surrey St John Ambulance. Responders are
skilled first aiders equipped with defibrillators
and oxygen who are dispatched by ambulance control when there is a
999 call in their local area. Since its launch in 2006,
the unit has attended 802 call outs. The speed
with which they can attend casualties and begin first aid while the
ambulance is still on its way, saves lives.
Winners nominated by public
Those receiving this year's award were
selected from 413 groups nominated by members of
the public who have been helped personally or witnessed the
benefits of a group's work in their community. The Effingham &
District CFR scheme was nominated by Malcolm Ash, one of
the people whose lives they saved. He suffered a heart
attack but thanks to prompt attention by the first responders, he
survived.
Effingham & District Community First
Responders scheme will receive a certificate signed by The Queen
and an exclusive commemorative crystal, presented by Her Majesty's
representative in Surrey, Lord Lieutenant Sarah Goad JP, at a special ceremony.
The group has also received an invitation for
representatives to attend a Royal Garden Party at Buckingham Palace
in the summer.
Vital community role
Speaking of their success, Scheme Coordinator
Craig Chitty from Effingham & District Community First
Responders scheme said:
'St John Ambulance believes everyone
should have the first aid skills to be the difference
between a life lost and saved. Volunteering as a Community First
Responder enables people to be that difference in their own
community and we are absolutely thrilled to have
been able to help Malcolm and to be selected for the Queen’s
Award.'
The Queen's Award for Voluntary Service Award
Committee Chair, former broadcast journalist Martyn Lewis CBE,
said:
'Volunteer groups make such an
important contribution to their communities, often
without praise for the incredible job they do. In these
difficult times their efforts are even more valuable. It's a
pleasure to celebrate the achievements of Effingham & District
Community First Responders scheme with The Queen’s Award for
Voluntary Service and give official recognition for the benefits
they bring to others' lives.'
More than 980 groups around the UK, Channel
Islands and Isle of Man have now received this annual Award since
it was created by Her Majesty to mark the occasion of her Golden
Jubilee in 2002.
For details of all this year's Award winners
and information on how to nominate a group, visit www.direct.gov.uk/qavs, where a
nomination form can be downloaded.