Volunteers recognised for their contribution to South Central Ambulance Charity

Staff and volunteers from South Central Ambulance Charity and South Central Ambulance Trust NHS Foundation Trust (SCAS) were nominated for the Helpforce Champions Awards 2022 and we were  pleased to attend the Awards Ceremony with two of our finalists. Finalists came together from across the UK to showcase the impact volunteers have had on the NHS over the last 12 months.

Jack Ansell, Operations Manager, Community Engagement Team was nominated in the Volunteer to Career – Volunteer of the Year category. Jack started his career by volunteering as one of the first Community First Responders, and as a volunteer with St. John Ambulance and after completing the Student Paramedic degree he has continued to respond both in a voluntary capacity and also professionally.

Jack not only now works in the Community Engagement Team to engage and train new Community First Responders he was one of the  founders of the British Association for Immediate Care Schemes (BASICS) team at SCAS which was officially started in 2020.   The SCAS BASICs team is made up of Nurses & Paramedics with enhanced clinical skills who volunteer outside of their working role.

His story grabbed the judges attention and he was named the winner at the Awards Ceremony.

Jack said of his award “My nomination and win is a complete shock. I have always enjoyed responding to emergencies and being able to help people in my local community. My time as a volunteer early in my career helped me cement my passion and understanding of the service and this is something I continue to strive to achieve today with our current Community First Responders.”

In addition to Jack’s win Nic Dunbar, Head of Operations, Community Engagement and Training Team,  was Highly Commended in the Health Leader Champion for Volunteering category.

Nic has been an advocate for volunteers throughout SCAS, not only leading the Community First Responders to take on further operational duties – such as responding to non-injury falls – but was also involved with the development of the Volunteering Strategy and introduction the Welfare Vehicles and Volunteers as a response to Covid.

Vanessa Casey, CEO of South Central Ambulance Charity “We continue to see the impact all of our volunteers have across SCAS. Our growing number of CFRs, Welfare and Car Drivers demonstrate that people continue to be eager to volunteer with us and help support their local communities and recognise the work our staff do. Congratulations to Jack and Nic, but also well done to all those other volunteers and staff members who were nominated.  Thank you to all our volunteers to continue to provide such an important resource for the ambulance service.”

Other nominations made to Helpforce Champions Awards 2022 included

Ben Taylor (PTS) –  Volunteer Manager of the Year

Nick Tappin (Welfare Volunteer)  – Volunteer of the Year: England

Jamie Todd (BASICS) – Volunteer of the Year : England

Kevin Wilson (Volunteer Car Driver) – Volunteer of the Year: England