Beds community first responder is ambulance service's volunteer of the year

Rhys Hibbert, who lives near Leighton Buzzard, won the award earlier this month at the East of England Ambulance Service NHS Trust's (EEAST) 'Stars of EEAST' awards night. Rhys has been a volunteer with EEAST since 2018.

Rhys works full time as a supply chain manager at a medical equipment manufacturing company, but in addition to this he volunteers around 20 hours a month to volunteering for EEAST.

As a community first responder (CFR), Rhys has responded to over 300 medical emergencies in areas including Luton and Leighton Buzzard. CFRs often arrive first on scene ahead of ambulance crews and can begin vital life-saving measures such as CPR or bleeding control.

Through EEAST's Community Engagement Group, Rhys has also organised first aid sessions in many local schools and shared with schoolchildren the benefits of volunteering in the community. During the Covid-19 pandemic, Rhys drove ambulances and supported ambulance crews and patients in a very challenging time for the health service.

Colleagues who nominated Rhys for the Volunteer of the Year award described him as "a fantastic example of someone who is truly dedicated to volunteering at EEAST".

Rhys Hibbert said: "It is a huge honour and privilege to be awarded EEAST’s Volunteer of the Year award. It is wonderful to be recognised for the voluntary work that I do, but it is also an opportunity to thank the hundreds of volunteers who work right across the ambulance service in a variety of roles.

"The other nominees for the award were all worthy finalists themselves, and I didn't think I stood a chance of winning when I saw the other volunteers who had been shortlisted. I love volunteering for my local community and teaching schoolchildren about the amazing work the ambulance service does."

The Volunteer of the Year award was sponsored by the East of England Ambulance Service Charity, which raises funds to support staff and volunteers at EEAST as well as the wider community.

Kate Lott, EEAST's Head of Charity, said: "Congratulations to Rhys Hibbert on winning the Volunteer of the Year award at our Stars of EEAST event. The East of England Ambulance Service Charity takes great pride in supporting these awards and the work of our volunteers, raising funds for specialist equipment such as CFR kit bags, enhanced training and lifting chairs to aid patients after a fall. It is amazing to see the hard work of volunteers recognised by EEAST and the charity was honoured to support this award."