Eccleshall First Responders Celebrate Cash Injection
© mcs ltd 2008
Picture Caption:
Left to right: Jan Watson, Treasurer of Eccleshall First Responders, pictured with Dave Abberley, Manager of Midlands Co-op’s Eccleshall foodstore and Martin Watson, Volunteer and Fundraiser for Eccle
12 December 07
Eccleshall First Responder Group volunteers are celebrating receiving a cash injection from a local retailer.
Midlands Co-operative Society has provided the Group with a Community Dividend grant of £1,150 to purchase personal protection equipment including safety helmets, boots and Hi Visibility wear.
Volunteer and group fundraiser, Martin Watson, who made the application said: “The Eccleshall First Responders Group comprises volunteers trained by the West Midlands Ambulance Service to provide first aid support to residents in and around Eccleshall until an ambulance crew arrives on the scene. In a rural community such as ours it can take some time for an ambulance from Stafford to reach those in need. The first responders use their local knowledge to reach the scene of an incident as quickly as possible and provide emergency care until the professionals arrive.”
“We provide a 24 hour, seven days a week service with fundraising and donations being our only form of income to keep the service going. To date we have managed to buy a second hand response vehicle and loan some of our equipment from the West Midlands Ambulance Service. However, we expect to have this equipment recalled at anytime making our fundraising efforts even more pressing. Thanks to Midlands Co-op we have been able to purchase much-needed personal protection equipment which enables us to respond to emergencies safely. We are very grateful for the donation.”
The Making a Difference Community Dividend fund guarantees that a percentage of Midlands Co-op’s trading profit is returned to local communities in its trading area.
Cyrrhian Macrae, Midlands Co-op’s Head of Community & Co-operative Affairs, said: “It goes without saying that the Eccleshall First Responders Group provides an invaluable service for the local community and should be praised for its efforts. We are very pleased to have been able to offer our support and wish the group well with its ongoing fundraising activities.”
ENDS