MOD Corsham, who provides a group of volunteers that are embedded within the South Central Ambulance Service have been honoured with The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service, the highest award a voluntary group can receive in the UK.
Maj Steven Spink has been nominated as one of the Co-Responder volunteers who will receive recognition of this award along with other members of the group. Steve represented the Corsham group as the team lead before his posting to Blandford and was both a driver and medic mentor who responded during the COVID crisis.
The MOD Corsham Military Co-Responder Scheme is one of 241 charities, social enterprises and voluntary groups to receive the prestigious award this year. The number of nominations remains high year on year, showing that the voluntary sector is thriving and full of innovative ideas to make life better for those around them.
Rear Admiral Nick Washer, Director Operations, Defence Digital MOD Corsham said "I'm absolutely thrilled to see the Co-Responders recognised with this award and cannot think of a more apt group of people to receive this award. They routinely give up their own time to make a tangible difference in support of the NHS and I believe represent the very best of the whole force team within Defence Digital"
Nicola Dunbar, Head of Community Engagement and Training at South Central Ambulance Service, said: “We are extremely grateful to our colleagues in other emergency services and the military who generously give their time to train and work as volunteer co-responders for us. Our military co-responders in particular spend significant time not only assisting with medical emergencies in their local communities but also voluntarily raising funds to provide vehicles and equipment. This award rightly recognises their outstanding commitment, dedication and achievements and is thoroughly deserved given the role these individuals play in caring for patients and saving lives.”
The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service aims to recognise outstanding work by volunteer groups to benefit their local communities. It was created in 2002 to celebrate The Queen’s Golden Jubilee. Recipients are announced each year on 2nd June, the anniversary of The Queen’s Coronation. Award winners this year are wonderfully diverse. They include volunteer groups from across the UK, including an inclusive tennis club in Lincolnshire; a children’s bereavement charity in London; a support group for those living with dementia and their carers in North Yorkshire; a volunteer minibus service in Cumbria; a group supporting young people in Belfast; a community radio station in Inverness and a mountain rescue team in Powys.
Representatives of the MOD Corsham Military Co-Responder scheme will receive the award crystal and certificate from Mr James Puxley, Lord-Lieutenant of Berkshire later this summer. Furthermore two volunteers from MOD Corsham will attend a garden party at Buckingham Palace in May 2022 (depending on restrictions at the time), along with other recipients of this year’s Award.
