An award has been made to a first responder group which has shown ‘outstanding commitment to their community’.

Community first responders are volunteers who answer emergency calls ahead of an ambulance, helping provide quick responses in rural areas.

Rame’s group, which covers the villages of Millbroook, Kingsand and Cawsand, was on duty for 7,990 hours from July 2016 to June 2017. They often work with the Air Ambulance and other emergency services in a coordinated response.

The group has a team of eight members, five of whom have been part of the group since 2005 when community first responding in Rame began in 2005 under team leader of Bob Gaskin, who continued until 2012 when he retired.

Steve Creese, a founder volunteer,  took over co-ordinating the group until 2014 and retired from responding in 2016.

Richard Pymm is the current team leader and paramedic Barry Barrett is their responder liaison officer who supports them by delivering training and replacing equipment.

They often hold events to raise awareness in their area. They have a group car for responding and run this vehicle through generous donations from the local community.

South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust, which oversees first responders, said: ‘The group are always professional, dedicated to their community and to the Trust and are all worthy of the Cornwall County Group Award.’

Group members are Christine Collins, Roger Collins, John Evans, Christopher Gaulton, Stephen Michael, David Parker, Richard Pymm and Alistair Spencer.