It’s not every day you find yourself on BBC’s The One Show. Less so when you are thinking you are with the Casualty show team to help develop a new Community First Responder character – the surprise was real!
I’ve had the fortune of great opportunities, experiences & working with incredible fellow volunteers for the past 3 years. Having the support of South Central Ambulance Charity who fund our training, uniforms, equipment & more, with South Central Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust, the trust we respond for, delivering exceptional training & backup for the 999 jobs we attend
I joined to be a contributing member of my local communities, to learn and use life skills that are as valid in my own life and day job, as they are when on call for South Central Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust. In doing so, I’m much more aware of the culture and traditions of Newport Pagnell and Olney, the scheme for which I’m a member of, broadened my knowledge of local areas and know if the worst happens where ever I am, I have first class training and experiences to fall back on.
Travelling to Cardiff, I was under the assumption I was to assist the Casualty TV show production team, with my friend and colleague, Stephen Hickman, in developing a new CFR or Community First Responder character. I want everyone who watches programmes involving the Ambulance Service, whether fictional or non fictional, to know who the volunteers that make up Community First Responders are and how we assist the Ambulance Service in responding to 999 calls. So, after a brief tour, it was a real surprise to see my CETO / Community Engagement Training Officer, the CEO of South Central Ambulance Chairty who fund our training, equipment, uniform and more, along with fellow CFR’s present. It didnt twig what was going on. I thought they were here to help. Never had I imagined a One Big Thank You was coming my way and as much as its aimed at the individual, I see this for all Community First Responders who give up their free time to help strangers on the worst days of their lives.
Im happy for Community First Responders to get this air time – we are from all walks of life, give up our time for free and do what we can to support the communities we live in. This isn’t about me, but about the diverse community of Ambulance Service volunteers across the UK there to help when the call comes in
We’re one big team here to help you
Thank you to South Central Ambulance Charity for the nomination, my fellow volunteers and management for making the trip to Cardiff to surprise me & Steve for keeping this one a secret for 6 months
Broadcast 6th Feb – see the full surprise on iPlayer – https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m0027nb9/the-one-show-06022025
James Mackeddie 