South East Coast Ambulance Service’s Eastbourne Community First Responder team has been recognised with the King’s Award for Voluntary Service, the highest honour given to a volunteer group in the UK.
The award highlights the group’s outstanding contribution to emergency care in the town, where volunteers regularly provide rapid help before an ambulance arrives.
The team has responded to more than a thousand incidents since the start of the year, offering critical early intervention at emergencies such as cardiac arrests, strokes, falls and breathing difficulties. In total, volunteers have dedicated over two thousand hours to supporting people in urgent need, often arriving within minutes to deliver life-saving treatment and reassurance.
Their work extends beyond frontline response. The team also spends time teaching basic life-support skills to local residents, helping hundreds of people gain the confidence to step in during a medical emergency. SECAmb says this community education is a vital part of improving survival rates and strengthening resilience across Eastbourne.
The award is seen as a reflection of the significant role the volunteers play in the area. Community First Responders give their time freely, and their swift action can be the difference between life and death.
Team Leader, Richard Bradford said: “All of our team are extremely honoured and humbled to win such a prestigious award. We all took on this role simply because we wanted to help people and to be recognised for the difference we make in our local community is a really special moment for us all.”
SECAmb Operational Team Leader and team member, Steph Meech said: “This recognition places the Eastbourne CFRs among a special group of volunteers whose work has made a significant and lasting impact. It’s a moment of immense pride not only for the team but for all of us who have witnessed their contribution first-hand.”
The award will be formally presented by the Lord-Lieutenant of East Sussex, Andrew Blackman. Members of the team will also be invited to attend a Royal Garden Party to celebrate their contribution to the community.
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