Cindy has loved singing since she was a toddler. “I would always sing for my family,” she says. But she also wanted to help people. “I decided I wanted to be a paramedic when I was 11 after a first aid class. I was especially passionate about helping someone in their time of need.”

She studied at Edge Hill University and moved from Lincolnshire to Manchester to train. She has worked for us for seven years, saving lives and helping people in Greater Manchester. She became a senior paramedic at the start of last year.

Singing has not always been easy to balance with her job. “I often felt conflicted about wanting to be a singer,” she says. “Only recently have I realised I can do both.” Music now helps Cindy deal with the tougher parts of her job. “After a busy or emotional shift, singing helps me switch off. I have even been known to sing softly to my patients to comfort them and help them feel calmer in a stressful situation.”

Not only does Cindy sing covers, but she also writes her own lyrics, drawing on personal experience.

“One of my new songs is country-style and upbeat. It has actually been written by a friend of mine, and the lyrics are about my journey and growing into my true self,” she says. “I was bullied at school and have worked hard to build my confidence. Music is part of that.”

Singing also helps her confidence, but in a different way than her job. “I’m actually more confident as a paramedic than a performer,” she says. “When someone’s in their hardest moment, and you arrive to help them, seeing the relief on their face when you walk in is such a powerful feeling. Singing is different. I’m still learning. I am still finding my feet and gaining my confidence. The more I record, the more confident I get. It’s a mindset that I am personally working on.”

Her nickname, The Singing Paramedic, came naturally. “For years I didn’t think I could do both,” she says. “Now I want to inspire people to follow all their dreams, not just one. You can be anything you put your mind to.”

This year, Cindy plans to release her own music and take part in competitions. At the same time, she continues her vital work on the frontline. “Life is short, it flies by,” she says. “Being a paramedic and seeing people both enter and leave the world reminds me of that every day. We are never guaranteed a long life, so why wait?”