Our Volunteers
Team Rossendale CFRs
Our team is made up of specially trained volunteers who dedicate their time to supporting both the North West Ambulance Service and the people of our community in Rossendale. Some of us balance this commitment alongside full-time jobs, while others are retired and able to offer more flexible hours. But what unites us is a shared purpose: to provide vital care and reassurance in those critical moments before an ambulance arrives.
We are incredibly proud of our team, and we’d love for you to meet them below.
David Chatburn
Duty Team Leader / CFR
Kelvin Rice
Duty Team Leader / ECFR
Dawn Taylor
External Events & Training Co-ordinator
Dean Hebden
Training Manager
Richie Watts
Field Trainer / ECFR
Stuart Pickup
Field Trainer / ECFR
Gerard Greenhalgh
Field Trainer / ECFR
Paulene Ainsworth
ECFR
Andrew Walmsley
ECFR
Katherine Fletcher
CFR
Simon Purkiss
CFR
Joanne Rocca
CFR
Gemma Tomlinson
CFR
Megan Hayhurst
CFR
Stuart Dootson
CFR
CFR
Rebecca Smith
CFR
Derek Allen
CFR
Malcolm Sweetlove
CFR
CFR
Have you been attended to by one of our team, want to provide feedback, or say thank you? If you visit out contact page by clicking here then select Thanks/Commendation and complete the form.
Rossendale Community First Responders awarded The Queens Award for Voluntary Service 2013
Every day, millions of people across the UK are making a difference by volunteering. Each year, outstanding examples of this work are celebrated through the King’s Award for Voluntary Service (KAVS).
Created in 2002 to celebrate Queen Elizabeth II’s Golden Jubilee and previously known as The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service (QAVS), the Award has been shining a light on the fantastic work of voluntary groups from all across the UK for many years.
Equivalent to an MBE, KAVS is the highest Award given to local voluntary groups in the UK, and they are awarded for life.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Aged 18 or older
- Hold a valid, full UK driving license with no more than six penalty points
- Have access to a car (roadworthy)
- Have fully comprehensive insurance
- Undertake a DBS check (funded by NWAS)
- Caring person and calm under pressure – the difference can be life and death
- Able to commit at least 4 hours per week on duty.
- We’d also ask that you attend our bi-weekly training sessions regularly.
This is perfectly fine, all basic training is provided by NWAS, you will also be encouraged to attend bi-weekly training sessions hosted by our in-house field trainers.
You will start off by sending an email to CFR.Recruitment@nwas.nhs.uk in order to obtain your recruitment pack. The recruitment pack will go through things such as two sponsors (that aren’t family), a DVLA check, criminal record search, details for an Enhanced DBS check (funded by NWAS), and a fitness and wellbeing survey.
Once you pass these checks, you will move onto the interview stage, this could be via Microsoft Teams. You will be interviewed by a Community Resus Development Officer who will go through some simple questions with you, remember this is not a test, be yourself and take deep breathes. You got this!
Upon passing your interview, you will be invited to basic training that takes place over the course of 3 weekends. Please note that although Rossendale are one of the best training centres to learn at, this venue may be unavailable when selection comes. Be aware that you may have to travel across Lancashire to complete your training.
Community First Responders train for the worst scenarios possible, we carry all aspects of observations kit and life-saving equipment. Below is a list of the basics:
- Automated External Defibrillator
- 2L Oxygen Cylinder
- Array of Oxygen Masks
- Bandages & Melolin Pads
- Micropore Tape
- CFR App (Comms between Control Desk)
- Tough Cuts / Trauma Shears
- Foil Blankets
- Electric Blood Pressure Unit
- SPo2 Oximeter
- Tympanic Thermometer
- Blood Glucose (BM) Kit
Once you get enough experience under your belt, you’re ready to take the Enhanced CFR training course, this unlocks additional training and resources for you to utilise while you’re on a job. You’ll also get called out to a wider range of jobs. On top of the basic CFR kit, ECFRs carry an Entonox cylinder for pain relief, burn gels, a CAT tourniquet, a cervical collar, Oropharyngeal Airways and a Bag Valve Mask (BVM)!
Community First Responders do not get any exemptions from traffic laws, we respond in our personal vehicles and must follow speed limits and parking regulations, this also means we cannot fit blue lights or fluorescent battenberg markings on vehicles.