Volunteer responders supporting the East of England Ambulance Service have raised almost £400,000 over the past year to help deliver life-saving care across the region.
To mark Volunteers’ Week, the East of England Ambulance Service NHS Trust (EEAST) has highlighted the contribution made by its hundreds of volunteer Community First Responders (CFRs), who are often first on the scene at medical emergencies before ambulance crews arrive.
EEAST currently has 238 CFR groups across the East of England. The volunteers are trained to respond to life-threatening incidents including cardiac arrests, chest pain and falls, providing vital early intervention during the most critical moments.
Between April 2025 and March 2026, volunteer groups raised a combined £388,270 through fundraising and donations, with the money used to purchase equipment and support local schemes.
The funds helped provide 105 patient monitoring devices, 40 defibrillators, 63 training items including CPR manikins and defibrillator trainers, and five specialist Raizer lifting chairs, which help safely lift patients who have fallen.
Over the same period, Community First Responders attended more than 31,000 emergency 999 calls and volunteered almost 224,000 hours of their time supporting local communities.
Kate Lott, Head of Charity at EEAST, praised the dedication of volunteers, saying their commitment was “truly inspiring”.
She said volunteers not only provide life-saving care in emergencies but also help communities become better prepared by supplying defibrillators and delivering vital training.
EEAST says the impact of its volunteer responders is felt every day by patients, families and communities across the region, and has thanked them for the significant contribution they continue to make.
