RAF Valley joins the Welsh Ambulance Service volunteering team

The new volunteer Community First Responder (CFR) team, based in Holyhead, was created consisting of Royal Air Forces medics and staff with previous clinical experience.

They now join the dozens of reservists and veterans who have served in the Armed Forces who work and volunteer across the organisation.

The RAF volunteer CFR team currently consists of six members, but with more planned training in the future, they will eventually help cover the whole of Anglesey.

The new volunteer Community First Responder (CFR) team, based in Holyhead, was created consisting of Royal Air Forces medics and staff with previous clinical experience.

Volunteer CFRs attend 999 calls in their community and administer first aid in the precious first minutes before an ambulance arrives.

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Nic Anderson, Operations Manager- Alternative Responders at the Welsh Ambulance Service, said: “In WAST we pride ourselves on our relationship with the military and are proud to work in partnership with RAF Valley.

“Establishing a CFR team at the base will significantly increase the response coverage and capability for Anglesey and it’s a welcome support for our existing civilian CFRs on the island.

“The interest from RAF Valley team has been phenomenal – we already have six signed off, with several more personnel wanting to become CFRs and more courses already planned this year.

“They have also offered coverage every day across Anglesey and are even authorised to respond during their working hours, which is amazing.

“Our volunteer CFRs play an integral role in the chain of survival, and we are unbelievably grateful for their support.”

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RAF Valley on Anglesey is home to No 4 Flying Training School, responsible for training the UK's next generation of world-class fighter pilots.

The new volunteer Community First Responder (CFR) team, based in Holyhead, was created consisting of Royal Air Forces medics and staff with previous clinical experience.

Flying Officer Will Dinmore, Project Officer, 72 (Fighter) Squadron and Volunteer Community First Responder, said: “At RAF Valley we are privileged to be supporting the community on Anglesey through our new volunteer CFR team.

“We have been working since autumn last year to put this team together and seeing it come to fruition for Armed Forces Day 2023 is really special.

“We now have six service personnel qualified as CFRs and more scheduled for training later this year.

“We have already attended a variety of callouts, and our location means we can respond within minutes to an emergency on Anglesey.

“We want to thank WAST for the training and equipment we have received, and we hope to make the team a permanent addition to RAF Valley.

“Representing the RAF in the community is especially rewarding, knowing that the station is giving back to the community that hosts us.”

The new volunteer Community First Responder (CFR) team, based in Holyhead, was created consisting of Royal Air Forces medics and staff with previous clinical experience.

This week (21-27 June) is Armed Forces Week, and the Welsh Ambulance Service is celebrating the service personnel, past and present, who volunteer and work for the organisation.

Chief Executive Jason Killens said: “As a uniformed service, we’re immensely proud of our connection with the military, both regular and reservists, as well as their families.

“More than 200 British Army soldiers provided critical support to our ambulance service during one of the most challenging periods our history – the Covid-19 pandemic – and we are eternally grateful for their support in keeping our communities safe.

“Both the Armed Forces and emergency services are full of remarkable people, and we are extremely thrilled by this collaboration.”