Black Country business steps in to provide ambulance volunteer service with winter kit

Black Country based Richardson Brothers Foundation have provided funding towards essential winter jackets for Dudley Community First Responders, who act as volunteer support for the West Midlands Ambulance Service and can often arrive at an incident before an ambulance. 

As a self-funded charity organisation, the responders rely on donations to ensure they have the right equipment and clothing to do their job working alongside the ambulance service.

Rachel Brown, Trustee at the Richardson Brothers Foundation, said: “Dudley’s Community First Responders go over and above serving the local community.  In the past year they volunteered 4,500 hours and attended over 1,200 jobs covering a range of medical emergencies.  

"The foundation is delighted to play a part in supporting their selfless work by providing a donation towards their winter clothing and wish them nothing but the best moving forward.”

As well as supporting national causes like Breakthrough Breast Cancer, the RNLI and Beating Bowel Cancer, the Richardson Foundation also donates to different local and regional good causes.

Recent organisations to benefit from the Foundation include Acorns Children’s Hospice, Priory Boxing Club, Birmingham Children’s Hospital Woodland House Appeal, Midlands Air Ambulance and Dudley Canal Trust.

Amy Webb, Treasurer and Trustee with Dudley First Responders, added: “For life threatening situations such as cardiac arrests, every minute counts to increase the chance of survival.  Our volunteers work day in, day out in all weathers to help people, sometimes in the most challenging of situations.  

"At the same time we need to raise funds to cover our basic costs.  So to receive such a generous donation from the Richardson Brothers Foundation towards our winter clothing is incredibly welcome.”