Claire Brown – Monday 2nd June 2025 – 9.00am.
West Midlands Ambulance Service is marking this year’s Volunteers Week by shining a light on the incredible individuals who give their time, skills, and compassion to support patients, staff, and the wider community.
The Trust has over 500 patient facing volunteers and more than 500 staff who give up their time to support the service and their colleagues in voluntary positions across the Region.
From Community First Responders who are often first on the scene of a 999 call, to BASICS emergency medics who provide advanced clinical care at the roadside, our front-line volunteers are a vital part of the emergency response team.
As well as emergency patients, there’s a dedicated team of Patient Transport Service (PTS) volunteer car drivers who ensure patients get to vital appointments safely and comfortably.
Most people might not realise it, but our public and staff governors who help shape and improve services in the ambulance service are unpaid volunteers too.
We have more than 500 staff who volunteer in a very wide range of different ways to look after the wellbeing of colleagues in roles such as Staff Advice Liaison Service advisors, staff champions, staff networks, Freedom to Speak Up (FTSU) ambassadors and Mental Health First Aiders.
Finally, our chaplains provide spiritual and emotional support to our staff in times of stress and sorrow as well as being on hand to celebrate key religious and faith events.
Professor Ian Cumming, the Trust’s Chairman, said: “We have a tremendous number of people who go above and beyond every single day, often quietly and without recognition, to volunteer to help make this the organisation that it is. Volunteers’ Week is our chance to say thank you – not just for what they do, but for who they are. They are an essential part of our ambulance family. To each and every one of you, thank you.”
Throughout the week, we’ll be showcasing the variety of volunteers we are fortunate to have across our Social Media channels, highlighting the diverse ways they contribute and the impact they have.
Inspired to find out more about our volunteers we’re shining a light on as part of Volunteers Week or, do you think you’ve got what it takes to become a volunteer Community First Responder?
ENDS