Ambulance service joins Bradford residents to build more resilient communities

Yorkshire Ambulance Service (YAS) joined local residents at a community event in Bradford at the end of last month (20 October 2026) to listen to their experiences of ambulance services and share opportunities to learn life-saving skills and get involved.

Colleagues from the Trust’s Community Engagement, Community Resilience and Patient Relations and Experience teams hosted a stall at the event, organised by Community Works. They gathered feedback from residents, discussed local needs and priorities, and raised awareness of volunteering opportunities. Bradford Community First Responder (CFR) Matt also attended and shared his experience of being a CFR, to inspire others to consider volunteering for YAS.

The visit supported the Community Engagement and Resilience Project, funded by the Yorkshire Ambulance Service Charity through the NHS Charities Together Community Resilience Grants Fund thanks to a successful partnership with Omaze. The project aims to build resilience in local communities by improving access to life-saving skills and develop lasting partnerships with communities experiencing health inequalities.

Working alongside local organisations and residents, the project seeks to help people feel more confident and better prepared for dealing with health emergencies, such as cardiac arrests. Its aims include increasing awareness of services provided by the ambulance service, as well as supporting volunteering and developing skills and resources that communities can continue to use beyond the project.

Ripaljeet Kaur, Community Engagement and Resilience Officer, said; “For me, it starts with going where people already meet and taking time to listen. Bringing our different teams together with local people and partners helps us respond to what communities need and improve our services. It empowers people with the confidence and skills to save lives.”

Attending the event enabled staff to listen to patient experiences, build relationships and promote community resilience. Feedback gathered at the event will help to inform improvements to YAS ‘s services and ensure the project adapts to reflect what matters to local people.

The teams also promoted the Community First Responder scheme, encouraging more residents to volunteer and play an active role in responding to emergencies in their communities. They shared information about life-saving skills training and other opportunities to get involved with the ambulance service.

The event helped to strengthen links with Community Works and identify further ways to work with local organisations to improve patient experience and address health inequalities.

YAS is inviting people who live or work in Manningham, Bradford, as well as those in Goldthorpe and Athersley in Barnsley, to get involved in this project and is inviting community organisations in these areas to contact yas.communityengagement@nhs.net.

ENDS

Notes to Editor:

Yorkshire Ambulance Service NHS Trust covers almost 6,000 square miles of varied terrain from isolated moors and dales to urban areas, coastline and inner cities and provides 24-hour emergency and urgent healthcare services to a population of more than five million people. The Trust employs just over 7,000 staff and has support from nearly 1,000 volunteers.

About the Yorkshire Ambulance Service Charity (YAS Charity):  

The YAS Charity is committed to helping save more lives across the region by enabling everyone to respond in a medical emergency. This includes supporting the roll-out of more defibrillators in communities and funding equipment and materials for basic lifesaving training. Full details of the projects can be found on the YAS Charity website, email yas.charity@nhs.net, (Registered Charity Number 1114106).

About NHS Charities Together:  

NHS Charities Together is the national charity helping the NHS to thrive and making sure everyone can get the healthcare they deserve.  Together with over 200 NHS charities across the UK, we’re helping to make healthcare better by improving patient care, making sure our incredible NHS staff are cared for, and ensuring everyone has access to health services and can live healthy lives. To find out more about our work and how you can support us visit www.nhscharitiestogether.co.uk