Yorkshire-based volunteer responder wins national award for exceptional contribution

South Yorkshire-based Community First Responder (CFR) Dave Fenwick has received a prestigious national award in recognition of his exceptional contribution and commitment to volunteering.

The award was presented at the Ambulance Leadership Forum (ALF), a national ambulance sector event organised by the Association of Ambulance Chief Executives (AACE), which was held in Leeds on 11 and 12 March 2025.

Liz Eastwood, Head of Service and Quality (Central Delivery) at Yorkshire Ambulance Service NHS Trust (YAS), said: “Dave has made a valuable contribution to his local community in Doncaster for the last nine years. He regularly gives over 100 hours a month on call, which adds up to an impressive 9,000 hours to date. He has responded to numerous patients and is recognised for his involvement in cardiac arrests that have resulted in eight successful resuscitations as a result of his intervention.

“Dave is incredibly keen to support us and regularly offers his services to his YAS community defibrillation trainer, helping at CFR introductory sessions, speaking to potential new volunteers and assisting at training courses. He also helps within his local community by carrying out regular checks on the community public access defibrillators in his area. He is widely respected by other CFRs and has a great working relationship with frontline crews in the Doncaster area.

“Everyone who comes into contact with Dave says what an absolute pleasure he is to work with; he embodies everything that is amazing about our volunteers.”

The AACE outstanding service awards give ambulance trusts the opportunity to pay tribute to a member of staff or volunteer from each of the seventeen member services who have demonstrated exceptional commitment to their work or volunteering during the past year. They range from frontline clinicians, control centre staff, volunteers or support team colleagues.

Established in 2006 and hosted by the Association of Ambulance Chief Executives (AACE), the Ambulance Leadership Forum (ALF) is the only annual event designed specifically for senior leaders across the UK ambulance sector. The conference and showcasing event brings together board members, managers, NHS system leaders, politicians, academics, and health and social care partners with key suppliers who have a direct interest in improving the UK ambulance sector.

Some of the topics on the 2025 agenda were transforming workplace culture, maximising digital opportunities and improving strategic leadership in the ambulance service.

Key speakers included Sir Julian Hartley, CEO, Care Quality Commission, who explained how regulation will support the 10-year plan; Professor Bola Owolabi, Director of Healthcare Inequalities, NHS England, who explored the ambulance sector role in reducing health inequalities through the 10-year plan, alongside Habib Naqvi, Director of the NHS Race and Health Observatory. Matthew Taylor, Chief Executive of the NHS Confederation, discussed leading for the 10-year NHS plan and ambulance sector vision.

Speakers from Yorkshire Ambulance Service NHS Trust included:

• Dawn Adams – Associate Director of People Development
• James Goulding – Clinical Response, Governance and Assurance Manager
• Louise Whittaker – Advanced Paramedic Mental Health
• Ruth Crabtree – Public Health Lead (and National Lead for Public Health, AACE)
• Sam Robinson – Chief Digital Information Officer