This week, East of England Ambulance Service will thank its army of nearly 1,000 volunteers, who provide life-saving care at emergencies, transport patients to vital appointments and offer a variety of other essential support.

Volunteers' Week, as it's known, began last Wednesday (1 June) and runs until next Thursday (7 June).

Those being commended include:

• Around 900 community first responders (CFRs), who leap into action to tackle medical emergencies in their area, and can often be first on the scene for incidents like heart attacks or a stroke. Their aim is to help stabilise a patient in the first vital minutes before the ambulance crew arrives. EEAST's CFRs together attend around 25,000 emergency incidents across the region each year.
• Approximately 34 volunteer car drivers, who support patients who are travelling to hospital or other healthcare appointments.
• Four chaplains, who provide vital pastoral support to staff.
• 19 community engagement volunteers, who make sure the views of patients and the public are represented when EEAST plans and delivers its services.

Tom Abell, Chief Executive of East of England Ambulance Service, said: "Our service has been under incredible pressure over the past year and it has been remarkable to see the help provided by our volunteers.

"They truly are a making a real difference to people in their own communities when they are in need of urgent help and their contribution cannot be underestimated. I am in awe of them and what they do."

The Trust also works with around 90 RAF co-responders, who have responded to more than 950 calls this year, and the British Association for Immediate Care charities, which are made up of healthcare staff who volunteer to help with pre-hospital care.

They include Suffolk Accident Rescue Service, Norfolk Accident Rescue Service, Basics Essex Accident Rescue Service, and Beds and Herts Emergency Critical Care Scheme. Together, they attended 1,374 calls last year.

Lorna Hayes, Head of Community Response with East of England Ambulance Service , said: "The commitment and support all of our volunteers provide is second to none. We would like to thank each and every one of them for the valuable service they provide and the selfless dedication they show towards their communities."

To find out more about volunteering with East of England Ambulance Service, visit the website.