South East Coast Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust (SECAmb) has praised the efforts of its volunteers for their support and care they provide to patients and staff across its region.

This week (1-7 June), as part of Volunteers’ Week, SECAmb is thanking all its volunteers for their ongoing commitment.

Volunteer roles include Community First Responders (CFRs), Trust chaplains, Governors and members of SECAmb’s public and patient involvement group, the Inclusion Hub Advisory Group (IHAG). SECAmb also has a public membership of more than 10,000 people who receive regular communications from the Trust and are able to help inform its thinking.

Across the Trust’s region there are 83 CFR groups made up of more than 400 individual CFRs. A total of 24 chaplains are available to staff to turn to for welfare support while the IHAG is made up of 21 members. There are 21 members of the Council of Governors who represent the public interest and work with the Trust’s Board of Directors. SECAmb also benefits from the support of many internal staff volunteer roles including TRiM practitioners, Well-being Advocates and staff network members.

Throughout the week the role of all volunteers will be celebrated including via the Trust’s social media channels.

Recent weeks, as part of the Trust response to COVID-19, have seen many volunteers quickly adapt their roles and responsibilities. This has included CFRs crewing welfare vehicles to provide refreshments to frontline crews while other have supported operations at the Trust’s HQ or 999 and 111 operations centres.

SECAmb Head of Community Engagement, David Wells, said: “Each and every volunteer, in whatever role they are in, provides an invaluable service. This dedication has been especially clear to see the last few challenging months. They should be very proud of their efforts and I would urge everyone to join us in thanking anyone who volunteers this Volunteers’ Week.”

SECAmb Chief Executive Philip Astle said: “I would like to thank every single person who gives the Trust their time for the benefit of both staff and patients. I know there are countless examples of dedicated volunteers across our region who are helping both their communities and our staff. I would also like to thank our volunteers for the way in which they have risen to the challenge of helping us respond to COVID-19. I can confidently say we would not be the organisation we are without the support and commitment of our volunteers.”

Anyone interested in finding out more about SECAmb’s volunteer roles or who wishes to find out more about getting involved by becoming a Trust member can visit https://www.secamb.nhs.uk/get_involved.aspx