BASICS Essex has long been powered by extraordinary people. Our volunteer clinicians give their time, skill, and compassion to bring advanced medical care to those who need it most, often in the most challenging circumstances. Their dedication is the reason so many lives across Essex have been saved, supported, and changed. As the charity continues to grow, so does the need to strengthen the foundations that support our responders. That’s why we’re delighted to welcome Kim Turner as our new Corporate and Community Fundraising Officer - a role designed not to change what makes BASICS Essex special, but to enhance and protect it for the future. For her, joining BASICS Essex is more than a professional step; it’s deeply personal. She has experienced first‑hand the impact of prehospital care - from losing a young family member in a road traffic collision, to seeing a close friend’s life saved by a similar scheme, to meeting patients whose lives were transformed by clinicians just like ours. These experiences have shaped her belief in the importance of this work and her commitment to supporting those who deliver it. Although she now lives in West Suffolk, she grew up on the Suffolk-Essex border and spent much of her teenage life in and around Colchester. In many ways, joining BASICS Essex feels like a full circle. Alongside her new role, she is the proud mum of two teenage boys, volunteers as a Community First Responder for the ambulance service and co‑runs a green‑waste recycling and tree surgery business in North Norfolk. When she’s not working or responding, she can often be found in her workshop, creating with wood and wire, usually accompanied by her golden retriever, Bramble Her focus at BASICS Essex is simple: to build sustainable fundraising, strengthen awareness, and ensure our clinicians have the resources they need to continue their lifesaving work. With strong foundations and a united team, the future of BASICS Essex looks incredibly bright.

A woman from Chalkwell (Southend-On-Sea) has helped save a life just days after attending a CPR and AED training session delivered by BASICS Essex , highlighting the real and immediate impact of the charity’s voluntary workshop. Nearly half of UK adults (43 %) have never learned CPR, according to British Heart Foundation research. This equates to an estimated 23 million people without basic CPR training. BASICS Essex recently delivered a CPR and AED workshop for members of the Legra Ladies Women’s Institute , based in Leigh On Sea, as part of its Sponsor A Clinician scheme  — an initiative that allows organisations to support the charity’s volunteer emergency clinicians while receiving life-saving CPR and AED and other benefits in return. Just a few days after the session, one of the attendees was travelling through Southend when a member of the public collapsed at the Royal Shopping Centre.   Thanks to the confidence and skills gained during the training, she was able to step in and assist immediately — supported by a nurse and other responders on scene — helping to save the individual’s life until emergency services arrived. The incident powerfully demonstrates how supporting BASICS Essex doesn’t just fund emergency medical response across the county — it directly equips everyday people with the skills to save lives . A spokesperson from the Legra Ladies WI said: “A massive thank you to John and BASICS Essex for providing the CPR training for our group. The events I experienced a couple of days later are a real testament to the importance that everyone should receive CPR training — it can really make a difference when you are least expecting it to.” John Horton, Volunteer Clinician for BASICS Essex, added: “The Sponsor A Clinician scheme allows organisations to see first-hand the impact of their support. CPR is something anyone can do, and early intervention can be lifesaving. Hearing that this training was used in a real emergency just days later shows exactly why this work matters.” What to Do If Someone Collapses (UK Guidance) BASICS Essex encourages everyone to learn basic life-saving skills. If someone collapses and becomes unresponsive in the UK: Check for danger and responsiveness Make sure it is safe to approach. Gently shake their shoulders and ask loudly, “Are you okay?” Call 999 immediately If they are unresponsive and not breathing normally, call 999  (or ask someone nearby to call) and put the phone on loudspeaker. The call handler will guide you. Start chest compressions Push hard and fast in the centre of the chest — around 100–120 compressions per minute . Don’t worry about getting it perfect; doing something is far better than doing nothing. Use an AED if available If there is a public defibrillator nearby, switch it on and follow the spoken instructions. AEDs are safe to use and will only deliver a shock if needed. Continue until help arrives Keep going until the person shows signs of life or emergency services take over. CPR Training Through the Sponsor A Clinician Scheme BASICS Essex delivers CPR and AED workshops exclusively to organisations taking part in its Sponsor A Clinician scheme . These sessions are practical, accessible and designed to give people the confidence to act in a real emergency. By sponsoring a clinician, organisations: Directly support life-saving pre-hospital emergency care across Essex Receive CPR and AED training for their team or members Help spread vital emergency response skills into local communities To learn more about the Sponsor A Clinician scheme, click here.

As families across Essex gather to celebrate the festive season, the volunteer clinicians of BASICS Essex , the county’s emergency pre-hospital critical care charity, will once again be on the road—responding to the most serious incidents where someone’s Christmas relies on us . In 2025, the charity has experienced its busiest year on record , responding to over 300 emergency callouts  at the request of the East of England Ambulance Service. These incidents typically represent the top 10% of the most critical emergencies , including traumatic injuries, cardiac arrests, road traffic collisions and life-threatening medical emergencies in homes and across the roadside. To keep pace with demand and continue providing hospital-level care at the scene, BASICS Essex has made major investments this year, including a new critical emergency response vehicle , a Lucas Mechanical Chest Compression Unit , upgraded PPE , and other essential emergency equipment. Despite these advances, the charity does not receive statutory funding and remains reliant on donations to operate. With 25 highly skilled volunteer responders —including doctors, paramedics, and enhanced trained emergency clinicians—the team provides specialist support throughout the year, including throughout the festive period. A Lifesaving Service, Powered by Public Support To sustain its operations, BASICS Essex must raise £80,000–£100,000 every year . Funding ensures responders have the life-saving tools, training and equipment required to deliver advanced medical care before patients reach hospital—a vital link in the chain of survival. The Charity’s Christmas Message This year’s appeal centres around a simple but powerful message: “We provide emergency pre-hospital critical care because someone’s Christmas relies on us.” The charity is encouraging individuals, communities, and local businesses to donate or fundraise throughout December. Even small contributions help ensure clinicians can continue to reach patients at their most vulnerable moments—often making the difference between life and death. How to Support BASICS Essex This Christmas Make a one-off or monthly donation Choose BASICS Essex as your workplace charity Organise a festive fundraiser, such as a Christmas jumper day or sponsored challenge Share the charity’s Christmas appeal on social media to raise awareness To donate or learn more, please visit: www.basicsessex.org.uk

Sponsor A Clinician Each year our growing team of 25 BASICS Essex volunteer clinicians give their time to provide critical emergency medical care across Essex Communities. Your business can make a BIG difference , by pledging £1,000 a year (two years minimum) to help a BASICS Essex volunteer clinician provide essential Pre-hospital care across the country. This will help provide crucial funds for PPE, Equipment, and training for your designated volunteer. What does my business get for sponsoring? Your business will recieve a Corporate sponsor listing on BASICS Essex website with logo and link. We will publish several social media posts mentioning your sponsorship during the year. Your sponsored clinician will run a Complimentary company CPR and AED session for your team Your Company logo will be printed on the designated sponsored clinician's hoody. You will recieve Monthly updates from clinician and BASICS Essex, in which you are welcome to share with followers Our team can assist with fundraising tactics and ideas! Tim Anderson, BASICS Essex Volunteer “Putting my skills and experience as a Paramedic to use in supporting the care of people in Essex as a BASICS Essex volunteer has been an excellent way to give back to my community. Your corporate sponsorship helps fund PPE, essential equipment and training costs to support our scheme." Nick Sillett, BASICS Essex Volunteer “When I received an invitation to a patient reunion, I was astounded. Meeting them was really rather emotional and I felt privileged to have played a very small part in their care and recovery. This case still motivates me to volunteer for BASICS Essex to this very day.” James Samouelle, BASICS Essex Volunteer “Working in the ambulance service, I had a loose understanding of what BASICS Essex was, but it wasn’t until I saw a roadside incident close to home that I began to realise I could do more to support my local community, and that’s why I joined the scheme.” Learn more about our volunteers and the rest of the team here wan Our Sponsors Lucy Hutchins, Aermec UK's Health Safety & Environment & Quality Manager “As a national but Essex-based company, when possible we like to support our local community. We see BASICS Essex as not only a local worthwhile cause, but it is also a charity that serves and helps our local communities.” Learn about Aermec Get in touch and become a sponsor today! First name* Last name Email* Phone Write a message Submit

Check out the events we have going on in aid of our charity. EVENTS Run the TCS London Marathon The London Marathon is the capital's most popular sporting event, with over 50,000 people taking part last year. BASICS Essex has places available for the event. More info

Fundraising You can help us save lives within your local community, by supporting us today Here are some community fundraising ideas for how you could help raise funds for BASICS Essex. Get creative! Hold a fundraising event Do what you love - perhaps baking, painting, walking, swimming, cycling, or maybe a dinner party - and help raise funds for BASICS Essex Online gaming tournament You could organise an online gaming tournament with an entry fee, raising funds for BASICS Essex Quiz night Host a quiz virtually or in person, requesting an entry fee, and have fun while raising funds for BASICS Essex Request a collection tin To display one of our BASICS Essex collection tins, please email us with your name, address and contact number. Contact us Become a Volunteer Volunteer support needed in a variety of roles, please get in touch today. Contact us Run the TCS London Marathon We have places available each year for the TCS London Marathon. More info Corporate Partnerships We are keen to speak with local businessess to discuss how we can work together. Are you in a position to consider making BASICS Essex your 'Charity Of The Year'? Contact us For even more ways to get involved, check out our Ways To Donate page Donate