New funding provided by Knighton Hospital and Community League of Friends will help St John Ambulance Cymru volunteers in Powys to support people in their community and save lives.
The £35,000 donation will support the set-up of a new Volunteer Alternative Responder Team in the Knighton community, funding essential vehicles and medical equipment. This initiative will be run by St John Ambulance Cymru in partnership with the Welsh Ambulance Services University NHS Trust, providing lifesaving care to those in need.
Trained St John Ambulance Cymru volunteers will respond to emergency incidents in the community, providing lifesaving care in the minutes that matter most. Calls will be triaged from the ambulance service to on-call, highly-skilled volunteers nearby that can respond quickly, often before an ambulance can attend.
St John Ambulance Cymru already runs similar schemes in communities across Wales, complementing NHS resources to ensure people who need it most get the help that they need in an emergency.
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The Knighton Hospital and Community League of Friends is a charity committed to supporting patients and former patients of Knighton Hospital, along with others in the community who are ill and in-need of help. St John Ambulance Cymru’s Volunteer Alternative Responder service will play an essential role in supporting these aims, acting as a lifeline for hurt or unwell individuals in the area.
Darren Murray, Head of Community Operations at St John Ambulance Cymru said: “We’d like to extend our thanks to everyone at the Knighton Hospital and Community League of Friends for their support.
“This generous donation will support the establishment of a service which has proven invaluable in rural communities across Wales, delivering urgent care and saving lives. This initiative will allow our volunteers to further support the people of Knighton and reduce patient waiting times in an emergency.”
St John Ambulance Cymru is the first aid charity for Wales, providing services including first aid treatment, training, event cover, and volunteering.
If you’re interested in becoming a volunteer and making a real difference in your community, or if you’d like to find out more about St John Ambulance Cymru’s lifesaving work, please visit www.sjacymru.org.uk.