On 7 November 2025, we proudly hosted our Volunteer Celebration Event at the beautiful Garstang Country Hotel and Golf Course, a day dedicated to honouring the incredible contributions of our volunteer community.

Patient and Public Panel member Rupak Rahman receiving his award for the Phenomenal Panel Member award from CEO Salman Desai.

The event brought together volunteers, staff, and leaders from across the organisation for a memorable programme, including a daytime conference, a development session, and an evening gala dinner and awards ceremony.

Conference Highlights

The conference opened with a warm welcome from Director of Operations, Dan Ainsworth, followed by an inspiring development session for our Patient and Public Panel, led by Julie Stansfield from In Control Partnerships. Other volunteers enjoyed a series of thought-provoking presentations from:

  • Jemma Kinch, Head of NWAS Charity
  • Dr Chris Grant, Medical Director, and Sam Hall, Clinical Lead Volunteer Sector
  • Liam Sagi, National Strategic Lead (OOHCA and AACE)
  • Joe Crook, National Volunteer Lead (AACE)

A particularly moving moment came from guest speaker Chris Foy, former Premier League referee, who shared his experience officiating the match during which Fabrice Muamba suffered a cardiac arrest, and spoke candidly about the personal loss of his younger brother to the same condition.

The conference closed with heartfelt words from Area Director Matt Cooper, reminding us that volunteers are truly at the heart of our organisation.

Evening Gala Dinner and Awards

The evening began with a powerful address from CEO Salman Desai, followed by an emotional talk from Bill Morley, who shared his mission to increase public access to defibrillators after the tragic loss of his son to cardiac arrest.

We celebrated approximately 1,200 milestone years of combined voluntary service from our Community First Responders, Volunteer Car Drivers, and Patient and Public Panel members, presenting certificates as a testament to their dedication and impact.

Award Winners

We were proud to recognise outstanding individuals nominated by their peers:

  • Remarkable Responder
    Winner: Owen Martin
    Finalists: Mark Hellaby, Dr Simon Carley
  • Champion Car Driver
    Winner: John Bond
    Finalists: Stuart Gidley, Jay Luby
  • Phenomenal Panel Member
    Winner: Rupak Rahman
    Finalists: Margaret Nicholls, Beverly Greenwood
  • Chair’s Award (Presented by Chair Julia Mulligan)
    Winner: Josh Bailey
    Finalists: John Axon, Joe Loughran

Chair Julia Mulligan closed the evening with a heartfelt thank you to all our volunteers, recognising their selfless commitment to supporting both our organisation and their communities.

This incredible event was made possible thanks to the leadership of Mark Evans, his team, and our Communications colleagues, whose hard work ensured the day was not only well-organised but truly special for everyone involved.