Edited by Evie Payne.

Oakham's Mayor has presented a generous donation to Rutland Community First Responders.

Each year, the mayor selects a charity to support, the funds raised at the charitable events held throughout the year going to the chosen organisation or group.

The 2023/24 chosen charity was Rutland Community First Responders, a group of local volunteers who give their time freely to help save lives in their community. 

Responders are everyday members of the general public who are trained in the use of Automated External Defibrillators and the treatment and control of a wide range of potentially life threatening conditions.

First Responders provide support to the regular Ambulance Service by attending serious and life threatening 999 calls in and around the community to provide the earliest possible intervention for patients in the first few minutes until the arrival of an ambulance.

Dealing with cases in the local area, the team are able to arrive before ambulance crews and provide defibrillation and other life-saving care as well as promoting recovery before a crew arrives.

They are completely self-funded, and it costs approximately £2,500 to equip each member of the team. As such, without the generous support of the community, they could not operate.

This is why support from local officials as well as members of the public is so important for the group. 

Last night, at the beginning of Oakham Town Council's Annual General Meeting (AGM), the outgoing mayor, Cllr Sally-Anne Wadsworth, presented a cheque for a significant sum to the vital local organisation.

After a successful fundraising campaign, the mayor proudly presented £2,708 to representatives of Rutland's First Responders. This donation was gratefully received by the group, and will undoubtedly be a welcome boost to their essential service.

Find out more about the Rutland Community First Responders online.