Your community needs you: London Ambulance Service recruits volunteer lifesavers

Londoners are being invited to apply for an exciting volunteer role that will see them saving lives with London Ambulance Service.

For the first time the Service has launched a recruitment campaign for Community First Responders, looking for volunteers who will be sent to life-threatening emergencies in their local area.

Steve Pyne, First Responder Manager, said: “Community First Responders are ordinary people doing extraordinary things.

“They step forward at critical moments to help people in their neighbourhood. Using local knowledge to arrive quickly, they are often on scene before an ambulance.

“That means they can have a huge impact on patient outcomes and improve the chance of survival.”

Successful applicants will be trained in life-saving skills and provided with a London Ambulance Service uniform and equipment, including a defibrillator and oxygen. They will respond alone to 999 calls in their own cars.

Caroline Julian, who has volunteered for five years alongside her paid job in a GP practice, said: “You arrive at someone’s home during a crisis: at the worst moment of their life.

“Seeing the relief on their faces when you walk through the door makes it all worthwhile. It’s very rewarding”

Chief Medical Officer Dr Fenella Wrigley MBE said: “If you want to help others and be there when it really counts, becoming a Community First Responder can be life-changing – for you and for your community.

“No previous medical experience is needed – just a commitment to give some time, compassion and a willingness to learn. It is a deeply rewarding role and you will get lots of support.

London Ambulance Service has already signed up 100 Community First Responders who volunteer at least 16 hours a month. It is looking to recruit 120 more this year.

Applicants should be fit enough to carry a kit bag and perform CPR and have access to a car to use to respond in under normal driving conditions. They also need to live in London.

Graham Clark is a retired police officer and has been volunteering in his community for 15 years.

He said: “Not every call has the outcome you hope for, but when it does, it’s incredible. You’ve helped give someone their life back and returned them to their family.”

Further information about the role, training and how to apply is available on our Community First Responders page.

You can find details of all our vacancies on our jobs page: current vacancies.