On Monday 29th June, the Lord Lieutenant of Devon presented BASICS Devon with their King’s Award for Voluntary Service at a Reception held in Bickington. In attendance was the High Sheriff of Devon, Mark Ansell DL, volunteers of the charity, and other emergency service colleagues from South Western Ambulance Service and Dartmoor Search and Rescue.
The Award is the highest award given to volunteer groups across the UK and is equivalent to an MBE. Created in 2002 to celebrate Queen Elizabeth II’s Golden Jubilee, the Award has been shining a light on the fantastic work of voluntary groups from all across the UK for many years.
BASICS Devon is a registered charity that provides a network of volunteer emergency doctors who support the South Western Ambulance Service. They rush directly to the scene of serious accidents or medical emergencies to provide advanced, hospital-level pre-hospital care and relieve pain. The organisation receives no government funding and operates solely on community donations and volunteer time.
Volunteer doctors are on call 24/7, responding to cardiac arrests, major trauma, and severe accidents in their own rapid response vehicles. As Devon is highly rural, these doctors often arrive first on the scene, bridging the gap when standard ambulance crews are delayed due to distance.