Worth Valley Community First Responder Service

Editors and Media will find a selection of our latest stories and Press Releases here. For further information, you should contact the our press officer Here or use the contact form. 

Please also contact the Team Co-ordinator prior to publishing or broadcasting any stories regarding WVCFR.

• First Responders are volunteer members of the community who are trained to respond to emergency calls through the 999 system in conjunction with the Ambulance Service.
• Responders provide immediate care to patients in rural areas where distance may delay the prompt arrival of an ambulance.
• They are trained to deliver Basic Life Support and defibrillation to patients in Cardiac Arrest and other appropriate calls including oxygen administration to patients suffering from a range of conditions.
• Worth Valley Community First Responder Service was launched in February 2008, going live in April 2008.
• We work in partnership with, and a re dispatched by, Yorkshire Ambulance Service NHS Trust.
• We currently have 14 Fully Trained Responders, with a further 4 about to undergo initial training. New members are being recruited and trained all the time.
• We Cover an area of approximately 40 square miles, with a population of around 15,000 people.
• First Responders do NOT replace the Ambulance Service, or negate the need for an ambulance to attend the call. They also cannot stop an ambulance from attending.

Our latest Press Releases

    Press Release PR08/001b - Released 19/05/2008

Recent Stories about WVCFR...

26th February 2009

Sun Inn Haworth

The Sun Inn in Haworth Had a Raffle for A Luxery Hamper, and raised over £100 Pounds for Our Locally Responder group, Many thanks to all those at The Sun

26th February 2009

Royal Oak Haworth

 A fun Evening of Quiz and  supper was held at The Royal Oak in Haworth where a sum of £135 Pounds was raised for the Local First Responder Group. A big Thanks to The Team At the Royal Oak.

 29th January 2009

 Life-saver’s tragic death

A man who co-ordinated a team of volunteer emergency medics has collapsed and died aged 29.

A colleague of James Lee battled to save him but he died in an ambulance on the way to Airedale Hospital. Tribute has been paid to Mr Lee, of Apsley Street, Haworth, who was a key member of the Worth Valley Community First Responders. According to fellow member and resident Peter Hill, one of James’s First Responder colleagues, Michael Sinfield, reached him within three minutes following his collapse — in Brow Road, Haworth — and began providing treatment. But Mr Lee was already unconscious.

A coroner’s office spokesman said a post-mortem examination had been carried out and Mr Lee had died from natural causes. A spokesman for Yorkshire Ambulance Service said it was deeply saddened at Mr Lee’s death. “He was a key member of our team,” he said. “He co-ordinated the scheme in Haworth seven days a week and always put his community first.”

The first responders initiative was set up to provide immediate, potentially life-saving care to patients in the vital minutes before an ambulance arrived. Mr Hill, who lives in Mytholmes Lane, has known Mr Lee’s family for many years. He said his parents, Susan and Irving, were “heartbroken”.

Mr Lee, a single man, worked at the Manorlands Sue Ryder Care hospice in Oxenhope. He was mainly employed as a finance assistant but was also a healthcare support worker. He had previously been a theatre nurse at Bradford Royal Infirmary. Mr Hill said: “He’d always wanted to work in the medical profession. “What’s happened is extremely sad. It was a terrible shock for his colleague who got to him so fast and found himself treating someone he knew.”

The death of Mr Lee, on January 16, was revealed as tributes were paid at Monday evening’s meeting of the Haworth, Cross Roads and Stanbury Parish Council. Council chairman Councillor John Huxley said the group would write to Mr Lee’s family to offer its members condolences.Cllr Rosemary Key said there were plans to develop a memorial in the village to commemorate his life. Mr Hill added he understood that no date had yet been set for the funeral. Before his death, Mr Lee had arranged a fundraising night to collect cash for the first responder service.

1st January 2009 

£500 Donation from Sovereign Healthcare

WVCFR is today celebrating the New Year with a £500 donation from Bradford based Sovereign Healthcare. The company, which provides health insurance and hospital coverplans, made the generous donation after learning about the lifesaving work of the Worth Valley Responders. This money will go towards further training, and provision of new equipment and clothing.

Articles which are over 6 months old...

Three groups are sharing £6,500 after impressing Keighley councillors with their community work.

The cash has gone to Worth Valley First Responders, Keighley in Bloom and Friends of Ilkley Moor.

Keighley Area Committee, part of Bradford Council, received reports on the groups’ activities at its November meeting.

It heard that the trio’s efforts helped to tackle priorities in the committee’s Keighley Area Action Plan.

The plan covers issues like crime, young people, regeneration, health, community life and the environment.

The committee gave £2,500 to Worth Valley First Responders to buy new life-saving equipment.

The responders are highly-trained volunteers who tackle emergencies in the vital minutes before paramedics arrive.

See Article

19th December 2008

Emergency medics get an early present

Christmas has come early for a group of volunteer emergency medics.

Jess Wright Graphics, of Manywells, in Cullingworth, has played Santa by presenting the Worth Valley First Responders with two sets of purpose designed ambulance logos. These have been put together free of charge to identify the vehicles used by the team to respond to 999 calls in the area.

The high-visibility logos are reflective, so will inform other road users of the responders’ urgent business during the day and night. They are also meant to help ambulance crews locate the patient’s address.

James Lee, Worth Valley First Responders co-ordinator, said: “These new signs will be a great help when we are attending calls and I would like to thank Jess Wright on behalf of all our members for his generosity.”

The group will be working over the Christmas holiday period, providing vital first aid to patients in the minutes before the ambulance arrives.

See Article 

26th November 2008

£350 Grant from Bowcock Trust Fund

Worth Valley CFR's is today delighted to announce that they have been successful in an application for a grant towards Education and Training of team members. The Bowcock Trust Fund of Keighley has awarded us £350, which will be used to put members through further training, to help ensure that our responders are well prepared for any emergency they are dispatched to. 

05th October 2008

Responders Announce New Uniform Supplier

Worth Valley CFR's is pleased to announce that Corporate Leisurewear will be our new supply pertner for our Uniforms. We are pleased to be supporting a local company, as CLC is based only 5 miles down the road in Keighley. For more information on the extensive range of embroidered or plain garments, please visit http://www.clcsport.co.uk/. 

20th September 2008

WVCFR hit by 'Credit Crunch'

Worth Valley CFR's has unfortunately fallen victim to the impact of the global credit crisis. We are sad to report that our overall supplier has ceased trading, and we are as yet unsure whether we will see either our overalls or the money paid for them returned to us.

Workwearhouse ceased trading on 17th September, whilst our order was still awaiting dispatch. Unfortunately, this means we are currently around £320 down from our limited funds. James Lee, Team Co-ordinator said "The loss of this money without even seeing the overalls delivered is a huge blow for WVCFR. We are looking to form relations with a local supplier, but the loss of the money means we are relying on donors more than ever now. We hope to work out a solution as soon as the Official Receivers of the Wearhouse Group are appointed". 

17th September 2008

£250 Grant from Oxenhope Parish Council raises 'coffers'

Oxenhope Parish Council has made a grant of £250 towards the cost of kitting Worth Valley Community First Responders out in Protective Clothing. With now nearly 20 responders in the team, PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) remains our biggest cost, and this money will go some way to ensuring all team members are properly protected whilst on duty.  

15th September 2008

WVCFR teams up with easyfundraising.org.uk

Worth Valley CFR's has teamed up with easyfundraising.org.uk to raise more funds which will benefit residents and visitors to the 'Land of the Bronte's'.

Shop Online and Raise Funds 

easyfundraising is a shopping directory listing some of your favourite online stores including Argos, Next, Amazon, Debenhams, John Lewis, Toys R Us, HMV and over 600 others. Just use the links on the easyfundraising site whenever you shop online and, at no extra cost to you, we'll receive a free donation of up to 15% from every purchase you make. It really is that simple!