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WOW.... We did it!
Our team leader Diane said, "I am extremely proud of my team and honoured to accept this award on behalf of our Canvey Community. It was a fantastic evening and incredible meeting everyone at the event. Thank you everyone".
Well done to all the Winners, to all the Runners Up and to all those who were nominated.
Also, thank you to everyone who made the evening happen and a VERY special thank you to everyone who voted for us. We do the things we do because we want to give back to our community and help make our community a better place.... it's humbling to see how appreciated our efforts have been.
Keeping Canvey Number One
Canvey Island
Community First Responders
We’re a group of volunteer members of the NHS, who are trained to respond to 999 emergency calls and cover the whole of Canvey Island.
We provide early life saving treatment to patients in the local community, and as we work or live on the Island, we are able to attend the scene of an emergency within a few minutes… often before the emergency services arrive.
Being a completely voluntary group, we rely on donations, sponsorship and fund raising events. We also hold Basic Life Support (BLS) training to the general public and groups.
Thanks for taking the time to check out our website, we hope you find it interesting.
Diane Gonzalez
Team Leader
Meet our Team
When these wonderful people have a break from their day-to-day jobs, they give up their spare time to help the community. None of these volunteers get paid to carry out their role as Community First Responders, carry out BLS (Basic Life Support) courses or attend fund raising events.
What our Volunteers have done for their community in 2024
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Community Events and Comments
Basic Life Support (BLS) Awareness Session
Our next session will be held some time in early 2026, so please check back nearer the time
These ladies are absolute assets for what you do and the service you provide, to which you have my gratitude. Keep up the fantastic work.
Thanks for attending Castle View School last week, my son came home telling me all he had learnt.
Automatic External Defibrillator (AED)
A quote from the Resuscitation Council UK shows that
“Despite over 70% of cases receiving CPR from members of the public, the use of public-access defibrillators remained low – in fewer than one in 10 cases”
See if an AED is near you… click a beating heart
We want to change this...
… and thanks to our amazing community, local businesses and CFR supporters, we have 28 public access AED’s, the majority of which have been installed (free of charge) by Scott Somerville.
This means that should a cardiac arrest happen somewhere on the Island, an AED should be near by. Having dialled 999, the Emergency Operator will give you the nearest location.
In 2024, we also installed two ‘Bleed kits’, one in the Town Centre and one on the Charfleets Industrial Estate.
These are all regularly checked and maintained by the Canvey Island Community First Responders team.
A list of who donated AEDs & Bleed Kits
Donated by individuals/groups
- Apex Steel – by A&R Motors (in memory of Ray Large)
- Apex Steel (Bleed Kit) – by June Johnson
- Bespoke Couriers – by the Family of Michael John Geary
- Castle View School – by the Staff & Students
- Costa – by D&L Flat Roofing
- Jones Corner Nisa – by The Rotary Club
- Golf Club – by Members of the Golf Club
- Maurice Road – by Terry Morris & Linda Morris
- Nationwide (Bleed kit) – by the Family of Joan Jones
- Our Lady of Canvey and the English Martyrs – by the Church Parishioners
- Rugby Club – by Canvey Island Rugby Club
- St Katherines School – by Tracey Grimmet
- Sweetbriar Lodge – by Canvey Island Carnival Association
- War Memorial – by the Peters Family (in memory of Colin Peters & Joss Peters)
- Yacht Club – by The Rotary Club, Island Yacht Club and Brian & Ann Keenleyside
Donated by the Canvey Community
- Bay Cafe – by Sheree Somerville & the Canvey Community
- Canvey Library
- Canvey Spiritualist Church
- Concord Football Club
- Conservative Club
- Design 4 Print
- Fantasy Island
- GMD
- Hole Haven
- King Georges Playing Fields
- Kings Park
- Pumpkins Nursery – by Sheree Somerville & the Canvey Community
- Saxons – by Sheree Somerville & the Canvey Community
- Waterside Leisure Centre
- Wilson Wood
In an Emergency call 999
NOTE: We are not directly contactable by the general public, we are dispatched by the 999 Emergency Operator.
Our Kit and Training
All our kit is purchased by ourselves, from money raised by events or donations. When its life expired we have to fund replacements. We are very proud of the equipment we have and ensure its looked after to the highest standard.
After our initial training, we continue to develop our skills with monthly training sessions, carried out by our awesome Link Paramedics and EMT. These guys are incredibly enthusiastic about CFRs and the care we give to our patients.
Not only do they provide the highest level of training, but they make every training session interesting and fun, always exploring new avenues to help us gain the knowledge we require.
We thank them for their time, effort and of course… patience.
Donate to Canvey CFRs
You may have heard of the saying that ‘every little helps’… well in our case, this could not be more true! All of our volunteers give up their time for free, which is amazing, but it “doesn’t pay the bills”! Replacement kit, new/replacement uniform, providing free Basic Life Support (BLS) sessions for the public, equipment storage and ongoing maintenance of our car all require funding. This can only be achieved with your help.
Please click the Give a Little logo and head over to our donation page to give what you can… we really would appreciate it.
This mobile number must NOT be used for emergencies, it is only used for recruitment or donations
Our Instagram
Happy New Year from the Canvey Island CFR team. 2025 was certainly a very successful year, and below are some of the highlights!
The team has delivered numerous Basic Life Support Awareness sessions across the Island including sessions for members of public, community groups and local secondary schools. Several sessions were attended by dignitaries, including the Mayor of Canvey, the Mayor of Castle Point and the CEO of EEAST. By anyone attending these sessions, Canvey becomes a safer place.
Throughout the year, our team took part in a wide range of public events whether that be school fetes or more recently the Rotary Club Santa Sleigh. These events not only helped support and promote the group, but also strengthened the connections we have with other groups and the wider community.
On top of all these events and community engagements the team have covered over 2800 voluntary hours responding to emergency 999 calls and attending over 400 patients. The team have been there in all hours and all weathers. Their dedication to supporting our community has been inspirational.
The year included some fantastic awards and recognition for our team. These include Lesley receiving her long service award for over 10 years of volunteering and Lee, our Paramedic Clinical Link Manager, receiving the Kings Ambulance Medal for the Kings Birthday Honours. We are proud of ALL of our team, every single day they make a difference to someone’s life.
The team relies on support from our community and sponsors to continue our fantastic work and we want to give a massive shout out to all of our supporters and sponsors. Thank you for helping us help you. Please contact us for details on how you can help or follow the Linktree below!
Thank you Canvey. Happy New Year. Stay warm and safe in the next few weeks and keep your eyes out for the vulnerable.
https://linktr.ee/canveycfr
Happy Christmas Eve to our incredible community. Please keep following and supporting our team of volunteers. Stay safe and warm this festive period 🎄🎄🎅🎅
Great fun supporting the Canvey Rotary Club on the last Santa journey around the Island tonight. Lovely to meet so many people. Thank you all for your waves and festive wishes. HAPPY CHRISTMAS X
A huge thank you to the amazing Furtherwick WI ladies for their incredible generosity 💙
We are absolutely blown away by your donation of £1,850.67
It has been an honour to be your chosen charity this year and your donation will make a truly meaningful difference to us.
Thank you again for all your support. Keeping Canvey Number One 💙
Our annual Christmas Tree is at Saint Nicholas Church for all to see. We are delighted to be involved again this year at the church. Please come along and support us, join in the quiz and try your luck at the tombola. ❤️
The Festival details are:
Friday 21st November 2pm-9pm
Saturday 22nd November 9am-4pm
Sunday 23rd November 8am-4pm
St Nicholas Church, Long Road, Canvey Island.
Thank you so much to Gary and Angela who have organised and run tonight`s quiz in aid of our incredible team. What a fun evening. Thanks to everyone who attended. ❤️
Honoured to take part in this year`s Remembrance Parade on the Island. What a wonderful turn out and service to remember our fallen men and women.
Lest we forget ❤️
Today the team hosted their tri-monthly public BLS session for members of the Canvey Island Community. The day was a great success with now an extra 50 members of public trained in the lifesaving skills.
We were very honoured to be accompanied by Mayor of Castle Point Barry Campagna and East of England Ambulance Service CEO Neill Moloney. This made the session extra special and we are so thankful for their support with everything the group does.
Thank you to everyone who joined us today. Keep an eye on our social media for the next course in the new year!
The Canvey Island Community First Responders have truly gone above and beyond giving over 240 hours last month alone to respond to life threatening emergencies across the Island. Chest pain remains the most common callout, and your volunteers are often the first on scene, delivering critical care before paramedics arrive.
Whether it’s cardiac arrest, stroke, or breathing difficulties, our team’s rapid response saves lives and with our Public Basic Life Support Awareness Session on October 18th at St. Nicholas Church, we empower the whole Community to step up in emergencies.
Book NOW to secure your place on our FREE BLS session:
https://linktr.ee/canveycfr
Another great session at USP College Canvey. Teaching more students the importance of Basic Life Support. Well done to everyone who attended.
We are pleased to announce that we will be holding another FREE Basic Life Support session open to the public.
📅 Date: Saturday 18th October 2025
🕜 Time: 1:30 PM
📍 Location: St Nicholas Church Hall, Canvey Island
Come along and learn essential life-saving skills that could make a real difference in an emergency. 12 years old and above welcome. Click on the Link below to book your free place.
https://linktr.ee/canveycfr
Canvey Island Community First Responders and Benfleet Community First Responders joined together to attend a brilliant training session run by our very own Jack lastnight. Learning about the organs of the body can be so much fun. Well done to everyone who attended. EEAST CFRs ❤️
As a team, we are so proud of everything we do to support our Canvey Community. Our voluntary hours, energy, and kindness make a real difference every single day to someone in need.
Thank you for standing with us and showing what true community spirit looks like. Keeping Canvey Number One 💙
Congratulations to our incredible Lesley. Lesley has been recognised for her long service by the trust, with over 10 years of her life given to volunteering for our Canvey Community First Responders. Thank you and really well done Lesley ❤️
We would like to thank the Canvey Community Choir for their incredibly generous donation of £500, raised during their fundraising concert in May.
Your support means the world to us and your beautiful voices have not only lifted spirits but made a real difference in our community.
Thank you for singing and giving from the heart! 💙
Fun at Leigh Beck Junior School. Waiting for the rain 😞
🎈 Fun for the Whole Family!
👨👩👧👦 Come down and see us today at King George`s Playing Field, Canvey!
There`s plenty for kids to enjoy—games, activities, and family fun all day long!
Don`t miss out—we’d love to see you!
In June, our team have dealt with a wide range of calls. These included everything from unconscious patients to falls that all needed our urgent attention. The variety of calls we attended shows how flexible and skilled our team is. Thank you all for your support. Keeping Canvey Number One 💙
Lee Umpleby awarded King’s Ambulance Medal for outstanding community service.
Our senior paramedic and dedicated community advocate at the East of England Ambulance Service NHS Trust (EEAST) has been recognised in the King’s Birthday Honours.
Lee Umpleby has been awarded the prestigious King’s Ambulance Medal for the Kings Birthday Honours in recognition of his decades of service, marked by clinical excellence and an unwavering commitment to his local community in Canvey Island, Essex.
The King’s Ambulance Medal honours individuals who have demonstrated exceptional devotion to duty, leadership, and a lasting contribution to the ambulance service.
Lee began his career with EEAST 20 years ago, qualifying as a paramedic just three years after joining as a technician. In 2009, he extended his dedication beyond his frontline role by joining the Canvey Island Community First Responders (CFRs) – a volunteer group that supports emergency response and promotes lifesaving skills in the community.
Now serving as the group’s Clinical Link Manager, Lee has helped grow the CFR team from just two volunteers to 12 active responders. Today, the group attends around 60 emergency calls per month on behalf of EEAST.
Beyond emergency response, the CFRs play a vital role in public education and preparedness, maintaining public defibrillators and delivering basic life support (BLS) training across the island.
Their impact is remarkable:
• · Over 3,000 secondary school students at Castle View and Cornelius Vermuyden Schools have received BLS training.
• · The team also runs awareness sessions in infant and junior schools.
• · In total, the CFRs have trained more than 7,000 people in lifesaving skills—all in their spare time.
Lee said:
“I’m incredibly proud and humbled to receive the King’s Ambulance Medal.
“It’s a privilege to work alongside such dedicated colleagues at EEAST and with the Canvey Island First Responders, who consistently go above and beyond for our community. I’d especially like to thank my great friend and dedicated crewmate, Jack Broomfield, whose support has been invaluable to both me and the group.
“I also want to recognise the incredible people of Canvey Islan
As some of you may be aware we have 28 public access defibrillators on our lovely Island. These are checked monthly, audited and monitored by our team. Unfortunately having this many units comes at a cost and we have to fund new batteries and pads periodically. These don`t come cheap. If you or anyone you know would be able to donate to our group and help fund these supplies, please contact us.
Keeping Canvey Number One 💙
Become a Community First Responder (CFR)
If you have a caring nature, some spare time and want to give something back to your community, becoming a volunteer Community First Responder (CFR) can be both incredibly rewarding, and at times, challenging.
What is a Community First Responder (CFR) ?
We are Volunteers who live or work on Canvey Island and attend certain types of emergency calls. The aim is for us to reach a potentially life threatening emergency in the first vital minutes before the ambulance arrives.
What is the recruitment criteria ?
You must be over 18 years of age and have a current full driving license with less than three penalty points, and be willing to have an interview with our Recruitment Officer.
If successful, you will need to complete a training course, obtain an enhanced DBS check and attend an Occupational Health Review.
Do you get paid ?
No, we do NOT get paid and are completely voluntary, whether on-call, attending training or raising funds for the group.
Do you receive training ?
Yes – we attend a 5 day intensive training course with the East of England Ambulance Service Trust (EEAST).
We then carry out regular training, Continuous Personal Development (CPD) and assessments. These are all carried out by our amazing link Paramedics & Trainers.
Can you use 'blues and twos' ?
NO – We have to abide by the same traffic regulations as the general public.
How much time do I have to commit to ?
All we ask for is a minimum of 16 hours on call per month. If you are able to commit to more, that’s fantastic.
Do you wear a uniform ?
Yes, as part of our group, we want you to wear a uniform. It’s not only smart looking, but comfortable and practical too.
Do I need to use my own vehicle ?
No, we are extremely fortunate to have our own CFR car, which was funded via an incredible donation.
Are the hours Mon-Fri, 9 to 5 ?
No, the hours are whatever suits you. We have a shared calendar which everyone signs up to, which shows the times you want to commit to.
How do I become a Canvey Island CFR ?
Give us a call (leave a message if no one answers) or drop us an email. Use the contact details below, and we will get back to you as soon as we can.
This mobile number must NOT be used for emergencies, it is only used for recruitment or donations
Basic Life Support (BLS) Skills
Here is a collection of videos you may find interesting. Each one of these has the potential in helping you save a life, with simple steps that anyone can follow. They are well worth a watch.