Brentwood volunteer responder is NHS regional award winner

Ron Ridge, a CFR for almost 20 years who helps run a CPR training scheme in the community, is the east of England winner of the Volunteer Award in this year's NHS Parliamentary Awards. He will now be shortlisted for the national award, which will be announced on 14 October.

Ron was nominated by his local MP Alex Burghart. His success is a particular achievement this year, with 318 MPs across England putting forward 918 nominations – a far greater number than in any previous year.

The NHS Parliamentary Awards were created in 2018 to celebrate and recognise the outstanding contribution of staff, volunteers and others working in the health and care sector. There are ten award categories this year which cover innovation and exceptional care right across the breadth of healthcare services. The Volunteer Award recognises the valuable role volunteers play in supporting patients and staff across the NHS.

Ron has been educating and training people in the community on how to perform CPR since 2005, and was integral in setting up EEAST Heart in 2021. In 2023 alone, the initiative trained 4,086 people in basic life support through a network of 111 trainers that Ron helped set up to deliver this.

All of Ron's work on the EEAST Heart scheme is done in his own spare time as a volunteer. His dedication to educating others for the benefit of the wider community is second to none. There are 111 trainers across the region, and Ron coordinates the Essex team.

Lorna Hayes, EEAST's Head of Community Response said: "This is a fantastic achievement for Ron, to be the NHS Parliamentary Awards regional winner of the Volunteer Award. It is a worthy recognition of the incredible work Ron has done over the years not just as a CFR, but training thousands of people in CPR too.

"Volunteers play a crucial role across all parts of EEAST, and I am thrilled that this has been recognised by Ron's local MP Alex Burghart and by the NHS Parliamentary Awards team. I have my fingers crossed for the national awards in October!"

Ron said: "It is an amazing accolade to the work all our CFRs and EEAST Heart volunteers offer into our communities. I am passionate about being a CFR and also about educating people and this is a truly thrilling nomination. It is amazing to get praise from your peers but to receive external recognition is very humbling."

Alex Burghart, MP for Brentwood and Ongar, said: "Ron is a shining example of someone who goes above and beyond to improve the lives of so many in the Brentwood and Ongar community. Knowing how to do CPR is a basic first aid skill which has saved thousands of lives, and Ron's own family's experience shows it does work.

"I am delighted Ron's work has been recognised by the NHS Parliamentary Awards team and he has been shortlisted for a national award."

EEAST Heart relies on the generous donations from members of the public. If you would like to donate, please go to: https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/eeastheart/

More details about the NHS Parliamentary Awards and this year’s regional winners can be found here: https://nhsparliamentaryawards.co.uk/.