First Responders Celebrate 20 Year Anniversary

Apr 28, 2024

20 years looking after the heart of the community for Five Villages First Responders

FVFR team celebrate 20 year anniversary.

The volunteer Five Villages First Responders (FVFR) group who respond to medical emergencies in the local villages across North Nottinghamshire and North Lincolnshire have celebrated their 20^th year of operation with an event held in Misterton.

The Community First Responders (CFRs) who work in partnership with East Midlands Ambulance Service (EMAS) celebrated on Saturday 27^th April by inviting members of the public along for free tea, coffee and cake and to see the work of their local responder team.

FVFR founder and group coordinator Martyn Johnson said:

“Our 20^th anniversary event was a real success and I’d like to thank all those who attended to celebrate with us. We had a great day and were able to say thank you to our current and past volunteers for their huge contribution to the local community. We also ran a public CPR & AED awareness session which was well attended and rounded the day off with lots of cake!”.

During the last two decades the life-saving scheme, which launched back in April 2004, has been dispatched to nearly 3,300 medical emergencies in Misterton, Beckingham, Walkeringham, Gringley on the Hill, West Stockwith and other nearby areas.

Because of their location within the local community the responders are dispatched by the Ambulance Service to relevant incidents following a 999 call. They can arrive rapidly and give care to patients until the Ambulance is on scene, helping to improve chances of survival in emergencies such as a cardiac arrests and other medical emergencies.

The group have also supported the installation of over twenty Community Public Access Defibrillators over recent years and have trained hundreds of members of the public and school children in life-saving skills.

Picture: Community Responder, Mary Riches, shows members of the public including Cllr Hazel Brand, how to perform CPR and use a defibrillator.

Never too young to learn life-saving skills - 5 year old Imogen Wright demonstrates chest compressions.

Martyn went on to say:

“I am immensely proud to have been the coordinator of our team for the last 20 years and feel very privileged to volunteer alongside such a dedicated group of people who really are at the heart of the local community.

I would like to say a massive thank you to all of our team, past and present, and also to all the local organisations, businesses and individuals who continue to encourage and support FVFR with fund raising and kind donations, and have done so since we launched twenty years ago.”

Picture: Never too young to learn life-saving skills - 5 year old Imogen Wright demonstrates chest compressions at the FVFR 20 year celebration event.

Coordinator Martyn Johnson presents Colin Gibson with an award for his 20 years of dedication to FVFR.

Martyn presented awards and thanks to Colin Gibson and Libby Stennett for their dedicated service, both of whom have been involved in the organisation since 2004.

Mary Riches received an award for her ten years of volunteering as a CFR, before the team then surprised Martyn with an award of his own to show their gratitude for his continued support and leadership as the team’s coordinator.

Picture: Coordinator Martyn Johnson presents Colin Gibson with an award for his 20 years of dedication to FVFR.

FVFR will continue their hard work within the local community and are always looking for further suitable and committed volunteers to undertake the training to become a CFR.

For further information about FVFR please see About Us section, or for information about becoming a CFR see our Join Us section. To get in touch please see our Contact Us page.