1. The newsletter for British Red Cross volunteers and staff
in Cornwall, Devon, Dorset, Somerset & the Channel Islands
The British Red Cross Support in
Emergencies teams across the UK have
been responding to an increased number of call
outs over winter to support ambulance services.
You have no doubt seen in the media how A&E
departments have been under increased pressure
particularly since December 2014 when they
reported an unprecedented number of patients,
and there has been recognition of the important
role the voluntary sector can play in relieving
these pressures on their time and limited
resources and enhance other services.
CDDSCI has been no exception and during
December and January, Red Cross IHCD
ambulance trained teams put our new vehicle
supplied last year (based in Somerset) to good
use in supporting people in their crisis, providing
60 hours of coverage across 600 miles in both
PTS and urgent transfer to service users, who’s
ages ranged from 8 to 102!
Our vehicle teams were despatched via the 999
system and support included:
 Transfer from rural hospitals to bigger inner
city hospitals
 Home to Hospital transfer
 Assistance in the home (e.g. falls resulting in
no injury but requiring some basic treatment
so they could stay at home)
 One call for a cardiac arrest.
Ian Fraser-Roe, Senior Services Manager for
Support in Emergencies
explains: “Regulated by the Care Quality
Commission our Ambulance Support work
operates under a Royal Charter as an auxiliary to
the public services. This means at any given time
we stand ready to respond to people in crisis
through the provision of suitable vehicles and
highly trained crews. During the recent winter
pressures we have assisted the NHS and
Ambulance Service providing support to over 25
people who would otherwise not have had access
to safe, caring and responsive care. This is
something I am particularly pleased to be able to
report upon as it is a growing service in our Area.”
And on 5th February, the cabinet office
announced investment in a 12 week scheme
targeted to 29 hospitals nationally, which will see
the Red Cross in CDDSCI working in partnership
with Age UK to provide additional support to
Taunton Musgrove and Yeovil Hospital, as well as
looking to develop support elsewhere.
This work will bring together the skills of both the
Independent Living and Support in Emergencies
staff and volunteers to scale up our current
services to help more vulnerable people return
home safely and get settled after a stay in
hospital, as well as preventing further admissions.
Another great example of ‘the difference we
make in the UK’ and how we can work flexibly
to provide the right support when and where
it’s most needed.
February2015
British Red Cross
responds as the
NHS experiences
high demand at
A&E departments
You can read more
about how we support
the NHS here: http://
blogs.redcross.org.uk/
health/2015/01/red-
cross-helps-nhs/
If you are interested in finding out more or becoming a volunteer for Ambulance Support then please contact Ian
Fraser-Roe by email IanFraser-Roe@redcross.org or telephone 01392 368703 for an informal chat.

2. Happy New Year
to all – a trifle late
but this is the first
Local Life of 2015!
The beginning of the year is always a good time to
reflect on the year gone by and think about what’s yet
to come but in the good old tradition of the Red Cross
there hasn’t actually been a great deal of time for
either….the weather has been kind to us and we’re
very grateful for that, but the continuing pressure on
the NHS and the Ambulance Service in particular has
led to increased work that is both an opportunity, in
terms of helping more people in crisis, and a challenge
in demanding yet more time and energy from our staff
and volunteers.
2014 was a busy year for us and in due course we will
produce some facts and figures to capture the sheer
amount of work you all did and the number of people
who benefitted from it, we will also be doing a ‘Review
of the Year’ slot at our 4 Counties Forum in April.
Further details are enclosed and I really look forward
to seeing many of you there.
Sarah Gibson
Operations Director, CDDSCI
Are you a tweeter? Follow:
IN THIS ISSUE
Page 4
Everyday first
aid in action:
Sara’s new
year ‘save’
Page 5
Channel Islands mark 70 years
since Red Cross SS Vega
shipments and liberation
Page 6
What transport volunteers mean
to service users of Somerset’s
Oncology service
Pages 7 & 8
Lots of upcoming
events to put in your
diary, including our first
Open Gardens of 2015.
Welcome to the Feb 2015 Edition of
your Red Cross Local Life
Page 2
ThankyoutoallvolunteersandstaffwhosuppliedimagesandcontentusedinthiseditionofCDDSCILocalLife.
Right: 9-13 Feb was ‘Legacy Awareness Week’ - and
what is a legacy but a promise to provide for those in
need through a gift in your will?
Paul Morgan (Community Legacy Manager) encouraged
us to think of some other ‘everyday’ promises, and even
his dog Badger (pictured) didn’t escape!
To read more about how a legacy directly helps people
see story on page 4
SGibson@redcross.org.uk T: 01823 273721

3. Spotlight on: Exeter University British Red Cross Group
Their aims, fundraising and mapping uncharted territories...
Page 3
The group is run by a committee of 7 members who
organise and publicise events within the university.
We have been significantly involved in fundraising
on campus since first appearance during Fresher’s
Week, focusing particularly on the Ebola crisis at
the moment, and have been able to engage with
and increase the participation of students who are
pleased that the university now has a group
representing the British Red Cross. Students can
participate directly in projects along with being
volunteers in diverse areas offered ranging from
first aid training to fundraising and more.
EUBRC is running, in partnership with the Law
School, a humanitarian education Pro Bono project
which will be taking place in February 2015. The
project involves groups of students going into
schools to teach topics such as international
humanitarian law, with the aim to culminate in a
mock trial towards the end of the academic year.
We are also excited to announce the launch of the
Missing Maps project, which students are already
participating in. The project is run in collaboration
with the BRC, AmericanRC and MSF and sees
students, staff and the general public at the
University creating maps of previously uncharted
areas of land so that humanitarian aid can be given
more easily (see www.missingmaps.org).
So far the group has been able to organise various
events for students on campus including a pub quiz,
volunteering fair, a bake sale, a mock UN debate,
Dementia Friends training (Alzheimers Society
Initiative), fashion society clothes donation,
fundraising training; alongside the group's members
participation on events outside campus such as a
fundraising collection in Exeter’s city centre.
The committee is pleased with the level of student
participation with the group, currently totalling 78
members. Along with the fact that so far 23 students
have been officially inducted as British Red Cross
volunteers. We very much look forward to
continuing the work of the BRC on campus, and if
you would like to get involved or think we can help
your service, please contact us by email at:
CMaher@redcross.org.uk
Jill Palmeiro, EUBRC Publicity
The Exeter University British Red Cross
Student Group is a newly founded society
at the University of Exeter, set up by a
group of students which began work on
campus in the academic year of 2014/15.
The group’s aim is to work alongside and
represent the British Red Cross on
campus in order to provide students with
the opportunity of getting involved directly
in projects, to encourage and facilitate
students becoming volunteers and to
increase awareness on campus of the
work of the British Red Cross.
Right - the students on the committee are Conor Maher as
the President, Sophie Kassis as the Social Secretary, Aya
Alshabibi as the Fundraising Coordinator, Melissa Jones as
the General Secretary, Apolena Ondráčková as the Treasurer,
Dariana Suciu as the Humanitarian Education Coordinator
and finally Jill Palmeiro as the Publicity Officer.
Above: At the Exeter University launch of the Missing Maps
project 26 January 2015, which saw an amazing 108
visitors including the general public, students and lecturers.

4. 4:00 PM - 2 Feb 2015
Red Cross #SupportinEmergencies team
gave welfare support to occupants at a
caravan fire in #EastDevon on Saturday
http://www.exeterexpressandecho.co.uk/
crews-tackle-caravan-blaze-Woodbury-
Salterton/story-25956260-detail/story.html
11:14 AM - 2 Feb 2015
Please donate items to Red Cross shops
#CleanStart appeal to give safe water to
thousands in Kenya and Bangladesh
http://ow.ly/GOzpq
3:36 PM - 27 Jan 2015
Listen from 22mins http://
www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/
p02ghfnk … to hear about the work
#Jersey schools have contributed to a
Red Cross exhibition - great poetry.
2:38 PM - 27 Jan 2015
Red Cross #FESS service provided
support & assistance to residents
affected by a fire in #Poole early this
morning: http://
www.bournemouthecho.co.uk/
news/11751023.Man_taken_to_hospital
_after_blaze_at_Parkstone_flat/ …
5:15 PM - 16 Jan 2015
Congrats to David Feindouno, who
works for @BritishRedCross Refugee
Service in #Plymouth, on receiving Point
of Light award by @Number10gov
Follow: CDDSCIRedCross on Twitter!
Did you see these tweets?
Page 4
45 years ago a gentleman by the name of Mr Webber Andrews
left a legacy to the Red Cross, a legacy that restricted use of the
capital but allowed for the interest to be spent via small grants to
people of pensionable age in Minehead (Somerset).
A committee was to be set up to administer the grants, though
the legal ‘guardians’ are the Red Cross Board of Trustees.
For the past 32 years two volunteers, Mrs Diana Webb and Mrs
Shirley Wallace, have administered this grant and done sterling
work in supporting older people in Minehead. Hundreds of people
have benefitted over the years and we are now considering using
this legacy to set up a small ‘support at home’ project for the
people of Minehead as we feel we can meet the needs of more
people this way.
Diana and Shirley continue to be involved and we really can’t
thank them enough for their commitment to the project and the
uncounted hours they have both given, but we have nominated
them both to attend the Queens Royal Garden Party in May 2015
as a small token of our thanks – let’s
hope it doesn’t rain!
If you would like to find out more about
gifts in wills or need information about
legacies, please contact Paul Morgan
on 01823 273710, email:
pmorgan@redcross.org.uk or visit
www.redcross.org.uk/legacy
The difference a legacy can make...
Sara’s new year gift to a friend in crisis...
Red Cross community-based first aid trainer, Sara Hodges (pictured
right), has taught hundreds of people across Dorset the skills to
save a person’s life. However, on New Year’s Day she had to put
her own teaching into practice when a friend began to choke.
Sara was dining with family and friends at a Chinese restaurant in
Swindon when one of her fellow diners began to choke on a piece
of food. While others thought he was feeling sick, Sara immediately
recognised the signs of choking and was able to jump into action.
“I calmly asked if he was choking and he indicated that he was,”
explains Sara, “He was sat in quite an awkward place - on a bench
with his back to a wall - but I managed to get into a position to strike
him firmly on the back. After the first two hits the food remained
lodged in his throat, but on the third hit, out it flew.”
The story also ‘hit’ the local press raising great awareness, so well
done Sara for proving it pays to learn everyday life-saving skills.
Right: Diana and Shirley receive long service awards
from Somerset President Philip Rowe MBE
Do you remember what to do? Visit: www.redcross.org.uk/choking

5. A fantastic Red Cross exhibition held at St Helier’s CCA Galleries on Jersey
commemorating the life-saving Red Cross shipments which arrived on the SS
Vega, is just one of many events marking this year’s 70th Anniversary since
occupation of the islands ended in 1945.
The Allied landings in Normandy in June 1944 profoundly affected the food and
economic situation of the German occupied Channel Islands, as supplies
previously imported from France were cut-off. Prior to liberation, the SS Vega
was sent for the relief of the islanders, arriving first in Guernsey on 27
December and later in Jersey, unloading it’s supplies including 119,792
standard food parcels and 4,200 diet supplements for the ill, as well as 5.2 tons
of salt, four tons of soap and 96,000 cigarettes.
David Isherwood who was aged just 8 when German forces occupied his home
in St Helier remembers: “To us kids, the occupation was a great adventure at
first, but then I realised that it was difficult for our parents and as time went on
food levels got shorter and shorter and I remember being very hungry. We
were living on about 1,100 calories a day. In all seriousness, the British Red
Cross parcels saved our lives - we were desperately short of food. I lived in
town and it was harder because we couldn’t grow anything ourselves. I
remember going to school with a slice of raw swede for my lunch.”
As well as liberation day itself on
9th May, volunteers and staff
based in Guernsey and Jersey are
extremely busy preparing for and
publicising many fundraising and
education events throughout the
year, with exhibits such as an exact
replica of the SS Vega (pictured
right) built by the Jersey Model
Boat Club, in great demand.
Avon and Somerset Constabulary
recognises the Red Cross for its
support to the 2014 Somerset
flooding operation with ‘Gold
Commander Commendations’
OTHER
NEWS
New Yeovil ‘£1.99’
shop opens
The new shop, at 71
Middle Street, Yeovil, is a
clearance shop with all
clothes on sale for £1.99
or less. As well as selling
items from quality high
street brands such as Per
Una and Laura Ashley,
the shop will be a sorting
centre for around 100
bags of donations a day
from clothing collection
bins in Tesco car parks
around the south west,
including the new Tesco
Extra in Yeovil, so the
volunteer team is key.
For more information
on volunteering or
stock donation call the
shop on 01935 433588.
Congratulations to
David Feindouno on
‘Point of Light’ award
Following his ’Pride of
Plymouth’ Teacher of the
Year accolade last
December for his work in
the community founding
Plymouth Hope Football
Club and Charity, David
(who also finds the time
to work as Refugee
Services Co-ordinator for
the Red Cross) has been
presented a ‘Point of
Light’ award at No.10
Downing St. The award
recognises “outstanding
individuals - people who
are making a change in
their community and
inspiring others”. You
certainly inspire us David!
Page 5
Events marking the 70th Anniversary of the
Channel Islands liberation well underway
The Red Cross recently received a Team award, and individual commendations were
given to Bev Sugden and Joanna Tennant, for work during the Somerset Flooding
operation. At the ceremony in December, the constabulary said of the team award:
“During the flooding of the Somerset Levels and Moors the British Red Cross was an ever
present member of the Tactical Coordinating Group and provided a large number of
volunteers and workers to help deliver humanitarian aid to residents of villages and towns
cut off by flood water. Additionally, the British Red Cross took on the role of coordinating
the large number of volunteers who self-deployed to the area. They also coordinated the
many offers of assistance that came into the relief effort. The provision of equipment,
volunteers and good will was extremely well received by both the Strategic and Tactical
Commander as well as other agencies represented in the Coordinating Groups.
Operational success is always dependent on the contribution of individuals and teams like
yourselves who go far beyond what should be reasonably expected. On behalf of Avon
and Somerset Constabulary we would like to thank the British Red Cross for the part they
played in contributing to the success of the policing operation.”

6. Topphotopicturedfromlefttoright:TraceyMiller(RedCrossindependentlivingservicemanager),SueHartley(volunteerdriver),EricBeckley(volunteerdriver),ValerieSharp(serviceuser),BenRoe(RadiotherapyServicesManagerat
theBeaconCentre),HazelCrighton-Griffiths(RedCrossindependentlivingservicecoordinator),GeoffVaulter(volunteerdriver),BabetteFuller(DirectorateManagerofHaematology,Oncology&PalliativeCareattheBeaconCentre).
How the Red Cross
‘invaluable’ transport
support volunteers
give re-assurance to
oncology patients
Back in November, Somerset based volunteer
drivers, who cover thousands of miles each year
taking cancer patients to receive treatment at the
Beacon Centre in Taunton and Bristol Haematology
Oncology Centre, had their contributions recognised
with British Red Cross long-service awards.
At the Beacon Centre, Sue Hartley and Eric Beckley
received ten-year service awards while Geoff Vaulter
received his five-year service award. Another
volunteer, Jean Browning received her 10-year
award separately. They are part of a 70-strong team
of volunteer drivers who collectively clock up around
500,000 miles each year supporting more than 1,000
Somerset-based cancer patients. The service as a
whole has celebrated 15 years of providing support.
The service, provided under a contract with
Somerset Clinical Commissioning Group, is vital to
people like 71-year-old retired school cook and care
worker Valerie Sharp, from Timberscombe. She has
used the service several times since being
diagnosed with cancer three years ago. She says:
“My daughter takes me to appointments whenever
she can but she works full time so it’s not always
possible. I’m very independent so I really appreciate
the service because it allows me to get there under
my own steam and the drivers really look after you.”
Over the years Valerie has developed a close bond
with her volunteer drivers. She says: “The drivers
are brilliant. They talk about all sorts of different
subjects so it takes your mind off whatever you’re
going to have done. And they never just leave you
there. When I needed a wheelchair they never made
it a hassle, they would get the wheelchair, take me
to the orthopaedic department and say, ‘give us a
ring when you’re finished’. When you call they’re
always there within ten or fifteen minutes. I’d have
been lost without them!”
The volunteers also get a great amount from the
service. Driver Sue Hartley says: “I do it because I
like the fact I am a help to other people and it offers
me companionship too. When they get in the car, I
find many of the clients are able to offload some of
their problems or concerns – they can relax and
speak freely. The idea is to make the trip as easy as
possible for them. Often when I take someone home
after their treatment they simply say “thank you so
much for looking after me” – that means so much.”
Babette Fuller, Directorate Manager of
Haematology, Oncology & Palliative Care at the
Beacon Centre, says:
“Some of our patients have to attend the
Beacon Centre on a daily basis for several
weeks. The additional stress and cost that
incurs can prove very difficult to endure at a
time of already heightened anxiety.
The Red Cross, supported by dedicated
volunteers, provides an invaluable service
for many of these patients and the testament
of Valerie demonstrates how much the Red
Cross drivers are hugely appreciated.”
Page 6
With thanks to the communications team. Photos ©UNP
Left: Valerie Sharp with volunteer drivers Eric, Sue
and Geoff outside the Beacon Centre, Taunton

7. Page 7
GLASTONBURY MALE VOICE CHOIR
FROM 1115, PRIOR TO DEPARTURE
DEPARTS BISHOPS LYDEARD 1145
ARRIVES MINEHEAD 1310
WITH MUSICAL PERFORMANCES BY KING’S COLLEGE (TAUNTON) JAZZ BAND AND
GLASTONBURY MALE VOICE CHOIR AT MINEHEAD STATION
DEPARTS MINEHEAD 1555
INCLUDES A CREAM TEA (WHEN PURCHASED WITH TICKET)
ARRIVES BISHOPS LYDEARD 1705
A LIMITED NUMBER OF TICKETS ARE AVAILABLE
DON’T MISS THIS OPPORTUNITY TO BE PART OF A VERY SPECIAL
BRITISH RED CROSS STEAM TRAIN JOURNEY
RETURN TICKET PRICES:
ADULTS (14 PLUS) £19.00
CHILDREN (2 TO 14 YEARS) £10.00 CHILDREN UNDER 2 GO FREE
CREAM TEAS: £5.00 EACH (MUST BE PRE BOOKED WHEN TICKET PURCHASED)
A BUFFET CAR WILL BE AVAILABLE ON THIS TRAIN
FOR INFORMATION OR TO PURCHASE TICKETS
Visit www.redcross.org.uk/musicalexpress Call 07857 941801
email cwynn@redcross.org.uk
BISHOPS LYDEARD TO MINEHEAD

8. stephenbennett@redcross.org.uk T: 01823 273727
NEXT ISSUE:
Please send us your stories!
Dates for your diary
The next issue of Local Life will be in April 2015 -
deadline for articles is Friday 20th March.
If we don’t know about it, we can’t print it - so if
you have any letters, photos, diary dates/reports
or news you’d like to share in the next edition of
Local Life, please send any text and photos to:
Page 8
Rick Stein’s Fish charity lunches
on the menu again for 2015!
Rick and Jill Stein’s restaurant in Falmouth,
Cornwall raised £1,200 for the British Red Cross
in the first charity lunches held at the restaurant,
and were such a success dates are already on the
cards for 28th September – 23rd October 2015.
The three weeks of charity lunches held
throughout last October saw diners enjoy a
specially devised three course lunch including
some of Rick’s favourite dishes such as Thai fish
cakes, goujons of flat fish, and cod curry for
£14.95 with £2 being directly donated to the
British Red Cross.
Luke Taylor, head chef at Rick Stein’s Fish,
Falmouth said: “We were delighted to get involved
with the British Red Cross and want to thank
everyone who came and supported us in our first
ever charity lunches at the restaurant”.
Cornwall Community Fundraiser Sara Loftus says:
“We’re so grateful to Rick and Jill Stein, their team
and of course, their customers, for putting the time
and effort into promoting and supporting this
brilliant idea and raising so much money for the
Red Cross. We hope that, as well as enjoying the
delicious food, they had the added satisfaction of
knowing they were supporting a great cause.”
Above: Taunton based staff and family raised nearly £500 on a
sponsored ‘Red Shoe Canal Walk’ for last year’s Red Cross week.
Open Garden - Bridgend House, Bridgend,
Noss Mayo, Plymouth, Devon. PL8 1DX
Sunday 29 March 2015 2pm – 5pm
£4 adult, children under 12 free - dogs on
leads are welcome, cream teas available,
limited wheelchair access
Open Garden - Fairfield, Stogursey Nr.
Bridgwater, Somerset. TA5 1PU
Sunday 19th April 2pm - 5pm.
£4 adult - teas and plant sale. Wheelchair
access, no dogs except guide dogs.
More open gardens will be announced soon -
look out on www.redcross.org.uk/opengardens
Joint Area Forum
Saturday 25th April 11:00am start.
Best Western Hotel, Tiverton, Devon.
Email cddsci@redcross.org.uk for info.
West Somerset Railway ‘Musical Express’
in aid of Red Cross - 16 May 2015
Steam, music, stalls and fun on the heritage
line between Bishops Lydeard and Minehead,
Somerset. For ticket bookings or info visit
www.redcross.org.uk/musicalexpress
or call 07857 941901
or email cwynn@redcross.org.uk
Red Cross Week 3-9 May
Last year we had some great events across
CDDSCI including bake sales, competitions
and sponsored walks. Get your thinking caps
on and support events & collections near you.