FastAid Solihull recognised with Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service 2016

A voluntary group from Solihull, who provide Community First Responders, has been honoured with the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service – the highest award a voluntary group can receive in the UK.

FastAid work in partnership with West Midlands Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust responding to life threatening 999 calls.

Dealing with cases in the local area, they are able to provide defibrillation and other life saving care – as well as promoting recovery before an ambulance crew arrives.

They operate a strict deployment protocol and operating procedures are set by West Midlands Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust Community First Responders are trained to a high level.

These skills and knowledge are passed onto the local community organisations through regular training in areas such as CPR sessions.

Samantha Jackson and Mark Lines from FastAid attended a garden party at Buckingham Palace on Tuesday 24th May where they met the Queen and other winners of this year’s award.

FastAid is one of 193 charities, social enterprises and voluntary groups to receive the prestigious award this year.

The number of awards given to groups this year is slightly higher than last year, showing that the voluntary sector is thriving and full of innovative ideas to tackle community challenges.

The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service is the highest award given to local volunteer groups across the UK to recognise outstanding work in their communities. The awards were created in 2002 to celebrate the Queen’s Golden Jubilee and winners are announced each year on 2nd June – the anniversary of the Queen’s Coronation.

Award winners this year range from a War Memorial Community Trust, providing social facilities for the benefit of the community in Clwyd, Wales, to a club enhancing the community by developing individuals through athletics, in Ayrshire and Arran, Scotland.

FastAid will receive the award from the Lord Lieutenant of Solihull later this Summer.

The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service Committee Chair, former broadcast journalist Sir Martyn Lewis said: “I warmly congratulate all of the inspirational voluntary groups who have been rewarded for their community work with a Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service.

“The judging panel for this year’s awards were struck by the quality and breadth of all the successful groups.

“Thousands of volunteers who give up spare time to help others in their community and to help solve problems demonstrate the very best of democracy in action.”

Minister for Civil Society, Rob Wilson, said: “I would like to congratulate all groups who received this year’s Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service, in recognition of their fantastic achievements.

“The huge amount of work and commitment these organisations put into their local communities is surpassed only by the passion and motivation of the individuals who volunteer.

“I hope these groups continue to inspire others to get involved and make a positive impact so that we can continue to build a more compassionate society.”

The assessing deputy Lieutenant Mr David Bradnock Mbe (who is also the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service ambassador of Solihull) considered the FastAid group to be an outstanding and worthwhile recipient of the Queens Award.

Samantha Jackson Trustee and Co-Ordinator of FastAid said: “This is clearly a testament to the efforts of all those involved in FastAid, who give up their time voluntarily to help those in need of medical care.

“The fact that this award has been received in this, our 10th year of operation, has made it of even greater significance.”