Local volunteers. Lifesaving skills. Crucial minutes.
Community First Responders
Be there when your community needs you most—providing vital care before the ambulance crew arrives.
Care starts before the ambulance arrives
Community First Responders are trained volunteers dispatched by South Central Ambulance Service to emergencies close to where they live or work.
Because they are already within the community, they can often reach a patient before an ambulance crew and begin essential treatment during the most critical first few minutes.
They come from every walk of life, united by the desire to help patients and save lives.
900+
Volunteer Responders supported
30,000+
Incidents attended each year
4
Counties across our region
Responding when every second matters
Cardiac arrest
Beginning CPR and using a defibrillator while further help is travelling.
Heart attack
Assessing, reassuring and supporting a patient until the ambulance arrives.
Breathing difficulty
Providing early assessment, oxygen and reassurance within their trained scope.
Suspected stroke
Recognising symptoms quickly and gathering vital information for ambulance crews.
Could you become a responder?
What the role asks of you
- Be aged 18 or over
- Be physically fit and healthy
- Perform effective CPR for up to 20 minutes after training
- Own a car and hold a full UK driving licence
- Aim to volunteer for at least 20 hours each month
- Complete a Disclosure and Barring Service check
- Help support the Charity’s fundraising
What you receive in return
- Professional training from clinically qualified staff
- Uniform and lifesaving equipment funded by the Charity
- Continual learning and development
- Full operational, welfare and peer support
- New friendships and a strong local team
- Opportunities to support events across the region
Why our volunteers respond
“Being a First Responder not only gives you the chance to do something for your community—it gives you the chance to make a huge difference to someone needing vital help.”
Your community needs people like you
Search current vacancies across Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire, Berkshire and Hampshire—or contact us if you would like to understand the role before applying.