Lack of volunteers leaves Brigg service at crisis point

Co-ordinator Chris Darlington said the group currently only has five volunteers to cover the whole of the Brigg and district area.

“Some people have left us, some have moved away, others have changed shift patterns and it has left us desperately short,” he said.

“We urge anyone willing to do the basic training and who has time available to come to talk to us.

“The group is financially sound, but we are short of volunteers.”

Volunteers need to give 20 hours of their time each month.

Full training is given to all volunteers on a regular basis, so new volunteers do not need to have any medical knowledge or background.

“We do not want to fall apart or reduce the area or the number of hours when we provide care,” added Mr Darlington. “Come and join us as LIVES does save lives.”

The Brigg responders are part of the Lincolnshire Integrated Voluntary Emergency Service, which provides initial medical care to 999 calls across the county.

Since its inception in the early 1970s, the charity now helps more than 20,000 people a year.

To find out more about supporting Brigg Lives or becoming a responder, go online at www.lives.org.uk or call the LIVES headquarters in Horncastle on 01507 525999.