Yorkshire Ambulance Service staff and volunteers recognised in annual STARS Awards

Yorkshire Ambulance Service (YAS) has recognised staff and volunteers who have gone above and beyond in the Trust’s annual STARS Awards. 

The event, held in Leeds on 10 October 2025, was an opportunity to honour some of the outstanding achievements of colleagues from core services and support departments across the organisation, and their ongoing commitment to providing the best care for the people of Yorkshire. 

Highlights included staff who went the extra mile to provide exemplary care to palliative patients, a Community First Responder who has volunteered at YAS for 10 years, and two colleagues who saved the life of a patient who went into cardiac arrest. In addition, there were a number of Chief Executive’s Commendations presented to staff who had gone the extra mile to support patients and colleagues. 

Peter Reading, Chief Executive of Yorkshire Ambulance Service, said: “The STARS Awards are a fantastic opportunity to celebrate the incredible work of our staff and volunteers. 

“It’s important that we take the time to recognise the outstanding contribution of our staff and volunteers, and thank them for their dedication to patients and colleagues across the region.” 

There were over 200 nominations in total, which were reviewed by panels of judges who had the difficult job of selecting individuals and teams to be shortlisted.  

Alongside support from the Yorkshire Ambulance Service Charity, the event’s headline sponsor was Leeds-based Vehicle Bodycare Centre, who has been a trusted partner of YAS for the last 40 years. The valuable service they provide from their state-of-the-art facilities mean that when the Trust’s vehicles are damaged, they are repaired and back on the road as quickly as possible. 

2025 winners 

Care Together Award 
A North Yorkshire team was nominated for its exceptional care of two palliative patients in November 2024. This included fulfilling one patient’s final wish - driving her to the seafront in Scarborough to see the sea and the castle for the last time. The team has been described as a ‘credit to the service’. 

Lead Together Award 
Davy Bradshaw, an East Yorkshire manager, was nominated for his outstanding leadership and dedication during his work on the Transfer of Care Standard Operating Procedure last winter.  

Grow Together Award 
Steve Hudson has shown continuous support and compassion for the volunteer Community First Responders (CFRs) at YAS, providing opportunities for the CFRs to develop and expand their knowledge. He is passionate about his role and is known for his enthusiasm and professionalism, as well as championing countless initiatives across the Trust. 

Excel Together Award 
The NHS Pathways team was nominated for a major transformation project to change the primary triage tool for 999 call handling in our Emergency Operations Centres (EOCs) from Advanced Medical Priority Dispatch System (AMPDS) to NHS Pathways. They embodied the Trust’s values to undertake this complex project. 

Everyone Together Award 
Sharran Dawson, based in the South Yorkshire Integrated Urgent Care Team, is known for her calm, approachable demeanour and exceptional leadership, with the ability to foster a respectful and inclusive environment for everyone she works with. Colleagues have described Sharran as a ‘role model’, with a ‘professional but deeply human’ leadership style. 

Volunteer of the Year Award 
Pickering-based Community First Responder Pete Dickinson has worked with crews across North Yorkshire for the last 10 years, and is known for his professionalism, work ethic, warmth and sense of humour. Pete has been recognised by his colleagues as a ‘hero’ and an ‘absolute asset to the Trust’. 

Team of the Year Award 
A multi-disciplinary team has been recognised for their efforts following an outage of water, electricity and heating at Selby Hospital in November 2024. They showed incredible teamwork and resilience, going above and beyond to ensure the safety of the patients at the hospital.