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Community support saves Responders car

2nd September 2009

The Bransgore Community First Responders are celebrating the support that they have received from their local community. Hearing that the group were at risk of losing their vital response car, residents, organisations and others rallied round and showed their support by raising enough funds to enable the group to buy their existing vehicle outright.

Among those who have helped were individual residents who had been helped by the Responders, local associations and community groups, the parish council and businesses locally and from farther afield, who provided their services to the group at greatly reduced prices. In particular the group received proceeds from events held by the family of Aaron Keeping who lost his life in the village in September 2008.

Group spokesman Mike Juke said, “We have had some wonderful generous support from everyone. Gates of Brockenhurst will continue their association with the group by supporting the maintenance and safety checks on the car, Bransgore Parish Council and Cllr Penwarden have provided grants to upgrade the hazard equipment on the car, a car shop in New Milton provided our roof bars and a firm specialising in fitting out police and fire service vehicles have refitted the car with distinctive green and yellow livery.”

 “We were especially touched by the kindness of Martin and Freda Keeping and their family who arranged community events and handed the proceeds to the group specifically towards the car fund. We cannot thank them enough. Without this car we would have to revert to using our own cars to provide the service we do.”

The Keeping family have been presented with a framed Certificate of Appreciation by the Community Responders for the support given to the group.

The volunteer responders are trained and despatched by the local ambulance service to attend life threatening medical emergencies and provide basic life support care until the arrival of the ambulance response. They attend several hundred calls a year in the area including calls in the Forest and open areas.

The Bransgore First Responders cover an area which includes  Avon, Burley, Holmsley and Bransgore, Neacroft, Waterditch, Sopley Winkton and part of Burton, although they are sent as far as Christchurch and Barton on Sea when the need arises. They rely on public donations and support from local communities to run the scheme.

If you are interested in becoming a Community First Responder in the New Forest or Hampshire please contact 0800 587 0207.