New ambulance charity visits Exeter
TASC, the recently formed national charity which provides support for the Ambulance Services Community across the UK, is searching for regional champions.
The Ambulance Services Charity (TASC), which was launched this spring, provides vital support and advice services to both serving and retired ambulance personnel and ambulance services families and dependents in times of difficulty and urgent need.
TASC has been formed through the merger of a number of funds including The Ambulance Services Benevolent Fund (ASBF) and the new national charity aims to significantly increase the range of charitable support and advice available.
TASC Chairman Cliff Randall and Chief Executive Lorna Birse-Stewart visited the South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust in Eagle Way, Sowton Industrial Estate, Exeter, to meet Chief Executive Ken Wenman and representatives from the region.
The charity is appealing for high-profile personalities from business, entertainment and sport from across the West Ambulance Services area to offer their support for TASC’s work and to consider becoming TASC regional champions.
Lorna said the regional champions would help TASC to inform the general public about its work and to raise awareness of the charity.
“It was fantastic to visit the South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust and see first-hand their great work,” she said.
“Members of the Ambulance service are sometimes the “unsung heroes” and given the nature of their service and sense of duty, they are sometimes the very last to ask for help and support when they or their family are facing real difficulty or in urgent need themselves.
“The new national charity supports members of the ambulance service, both current and retired, who may be coping with severe illness or dealing with significant work related physical injuries or post-trauma stress or illness.
“The charity also supports bereaved families of members of the ambulance service who have been killed or have died as a result of injuries sustained whilst on active duty.
“We provide a single point of contact through our dedicated and independent professional Support Services team and Freephone support line. We aim to help with advice and offer a range of support services including: rehabilitation when recovering from illness, injury or disability, support with mental health issues and bereavement and also give advice about debt, welfare and financial grants. TASC also works to address many other calls and requests for support.
“TASC was established in March and we are now looking for Champions or Ambassadors both from the ambulance service and the wider general public from across the South West, who are prepared to join us and help in raising awareness of and support for our work.
“It would be wonderful if people became involved with the charity and we are looking for people from across a wide range of sectors to help us, whether from the ambulance services community or from business, entertainment or sport. We really need their help to spread the word about the charity to different communities and also to help us to raise funds.
“We would be most grateful for any support and help that people can give us so that we can make a real impact and increase what the charity can offer in terms of support to people in our ambulance services both in the South West and the UK who need and very much deserve our help.”
Ken said: “The Ambulance Services Charity (TASC) is now the leading UK charity supporting current and retired ambulance staff, their families and dependents and I was delighted to welcome them to Trust HQ in Exeter.
“All of the staff at South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust (SWASFT) do a vital job and any support that can be offered to them in a time of need is most welcome.”
To become a regional champion or to find out more information about The Ambulance Services Charity, please visit www.TheASC.org.uk
