Company launch Exclusive CFR Clothing
A local company has launched a new range of clothing exclusive to the Community First Responder. Med-a-train Ltd, based in Derby, noticed that there is no clothing specifically manufactured for the CFR volunteers. To view the latest clothing from Med-a-train, please click here.
Charity receives 4x4
The volunteers of the Charity have taken deliver of a car kindly donated by a Derby company. Hannells Estate Agents, two-time National Estate Agents of the Year nominees, have donated the diesel-powered BMW X3 for six months.
Partnership formed with volunteer group
A partnership has been formed between another Amber Valley volunteer group. Heartstart Amber Valley are a volunteer group who deliver life-saving resuscitation training free-of-charge to the public. The group are affiliated to the British Heart Foundation.
Disappointment brought to Charity
The Amber Valley First Responders (AVFR) has been told to return the set of equipment donated by the Midlands Co-operative Society Ltd based in Lichfield, Staffordshire.
As a direct result of this withdrawal, the AVFR must fund-raise harder than ever to continue to provide emergency life support cover in our area.
If you can help us raise £2500 to purchase more equipment please contact our Group Co-ordinator.
Donate via this website!
Thanks to Charity Choice and PayPal, you can now donate money directly to us via secure websites.
To donate, follow the link to the left.
New fund-raising WebShop launched
Exciting news! We’re delighted to announce our fundraising webshop. When shopping online, you can access over 100 leading retailers using our webshop. Every time you use our webshop when shopping online, you’ll automatically earn money for us! You don’t pay anything extra by using our webshop, so please try to use it whenever you can.
Find our webshop at www.buy.at/avrs (please bookmark this link for future use).
Charity Status confirmed
After seeking charitable status since April, we can now confirm that the Amber Valley Responder Scheme has now been entered onto the Charity Commission register. Our registered number is 1115355.
The charitable status should now aid us raise funds to purchase more equipment to assist us in our mission statement to the public.
Local companies assist with equipment
Two local companies in the Duffield area of the Amber Valley First Responders
have assisted with the purchased of equipment to start the areas third team.
The Viceroy Indian Restaurant on Tamworth Street in the town has given £1300 to
purchase the vital life-saving equipment - a defibrillator, equipment bag and
apparatus to assist breathing.
Benz-Bavarian Ltd, of Derby Road in Duffield, are our main sponsor for the area. They have donated a van specifically for the use of the Scheme, and have also added livery to the vehicle so it is easily seen by other road users. Mr Felix Frixou, Managing Director of Benz-Bavarian Ltd, said "Our latest venture is one we are extremely proud to be associated with. I will be heading the appeal and am responsible for the fund-raising to keep this vital service up and running."
Large construction company aids fund-raising
A local construction company has pledged a large donation to aid our fund-raising efforts. Bowmer & Kirkland Ltd, based in Heage, Belper, has donated £1900 to the Scheme. Mr John Kirkland OBE, Chairman of the Bowmer & Kirkland group, handed over the equipment to the Nether Heage area of the Amber Valley First Responders.
Group changes name
The Ripley & District Responder Scheme has changed it's operating name to the Amber Valley First Responders. This is due to the area that is now covered by our volunteers. Although our SMART car, pictured below, still has Ripley & District Responder Scheme on, the new car will show Amber Valley...
The group is hoping to cover the entire Amber Valley area by having teams based in Ripley, Belper, Heanor and Alfreton.
SMART car arrives with group
The SMART car, kindly donated by Smart of Derby, arrived with the group at the beginning of September.
Since taking delivery of the vehicle, the scheme has responded to over 60 calls for service.
For information about the Smart range, call 01332 208802
Large donation assists with equipment
The staff and students of The Meadows Community School in Old Whittington, Chesterfield emptied out their pockets recently, in aid of the AVFR. A total of £421.06 was raised on 1st April by holding a non-uniform day. The schools Administration Officer, Tina Allen, nominated the group as a beneficiary to enable them to purchase new life-saving equipment. For a link to their website, please click go the Local Directory page.
THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR SUPPORT!
New vehicle for the AVRS
Smart of Derby, a part of Mercedes-Benz, are donating a
Smart City Coupe car to the Scheme. The vehicle, similar to the one
pictured below, will soon be used to respond to calls for service.
Powered by a 3-cylinder 698cc turbo-charged engine, this lightweight car can
reach speeds up to 84mph. A
Community First Responder can drive the two-seater car into crowded shopping centres, narrow
pedestrian areas or alleys, carrying life saving resuscitation equipment right
up to the scene of an incident.
For more information on the Smart range, call 01332 208802
The vehicle should be with the AVFR in May.
The beginning of Amber Valley First Responders
From the County Edition of the Derby Evening Telegraph on Tuesday 2 March 2004.
An ambulance technician who wants to speed up emergency response times for his Derbyshire community is setting up a voluntary team of first aiders.
Dave Roberts (27), of Mill View in Belper, is appealing for volunteers to train in first aid and join a team that will look after patients until an ambulance can reach them.
The Ripley and District Responder Scheme will look after patients within fives miles of Ripley.
Mr Roberts, who has worked for East Midlands Ambulance Service (EMAS) for six years and is based at Raynesway Ambulance Station in Derby, said "I'm setting this up as a member of the community, not as someone who works for EMAS.
Most of my friends and family live and work in that area and I feel that people are entitled to emergency care as soon as they need it."
Volunteers will have to take part in a 30-hour basic first aid training course, provided and funded by EMAS.
They will be given a pager and have to inform the service when they are available for duty.
Then when EMAS receives 999 calls, an on-call volunteer will be alerted at the same time as the ambulance.
The Responder can provide basic treatment using their first aid training and equipment provided by the group, until paramedics arrive.
Mr Roberts said: "The aim of the scheme is basically to get assistance to people who require it more quickly - to prevent their condition worsening and to promote a speedy recovery."
Phil Morris, EMAS spokesman, said "We're delighted at the prospect of
another scheme being introduced in the Amber Valley area, and the fact that the instigator is
a member of EMAS staff shows just how much commitment people within the service
have.
The scheme would obviously be of major benefit to the area - if it only takes
two minutes off the time it takes to respond to an emergency, then that can be
the difference between life and death."
Community Responder Schemes are already set up in much of rural Derbyshire and the Peak District.
People interested in volunteering must be aged between 18 and 70, physically fit, have a full driving licence and access to a car and have a sympathetic and caring approach.
Volunteers must pass the training course before they can work as a Community First Responder.
For more information, call Mr Roberts on 07768 - 694793 or e-mail ambervalley.responders@virgin.net