Heroes in the Heart of Devon awarded funding for Emergency Care and Education in their communities
- Fundraising Manager
- Jul 1
- 4 min read
BASICS Devon, a volunteer-led emergency response charity, is proud to share its ongoing commitment to saving lives and building healthier, more resilient communities across one of the UK’s most rural counties. Supporting the South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust (SWASFT), their team of highly trained doctors provide 24/7 pre-hospital emergency care—often arriving first on scene, even in the most remote areas.
In 2024 alone, BASICS Devon responded to 371 emergency callouts, including 55 cardiac arrests and 105 night-time incidents, with a first-on-scene rate exceeding 40%. These figures highlight the critical role their volunteers play in bridging the gap between an emergency and hospital care. With a rural population where some areas are more than an hour from the nearest hospital, this timely intervention is often the difference between life and death.
Katrin, a cardiac arrest survivor, is one of many lives touched by BASICS Devon. “Without the quick response and lifesaving defibrillator, things could have been so different,” she said. “I am lucky to be alive.”
Beyond emergency response, BASICS Devon is passionate about health education and community empowerment. In 2024, they conducted 25 community education sessions and are launching a Community Volunteer Programme, enlisting local medical professionals and community members to extend their reach. They target areas with longer response times, providing training, equipment, and volunteer support to improve survival rates and reduce long-term disability.
‘We want every individual in Devon to have access to immediate care when they need it and to have the confidence to act in a medical emergency when someone near them needs it. With an aging population, high rurality and tourism hot spots, our region faces unique challenges—but we’re here to meet them.’ Robert Horton Trustee & Chair of BASICS Devon.
To continue this vital lifesaving service The National Lottery Community Fund is giving BASICS Devon £19,824 to help their community thrive. None of this would be possible without the incredible generosity of National Lottery players. Every ticket played helps deliver care where it's needed most, often in someone’s darkest moment.
Amie Bull Fundraising Manager of BASICS Devon want to thank their supporters, ‘This funding will help save lives, train volunteers, and build strong, connected communities. From the bottom of our hearts—thank you. Your contribution is not just funding equipment or training; it’s giving enhanced medical care, and opportunities to people across Devon. ‘
“Every life we save, every person we train, and every volunteer we support brings us one step closer to a healthier, more resilient Devon,” said Glenda Cooper, Advanced Nurse Practitioner, Resuscitation Officer & Treasurer of BASICS Devon.
To learn more or support our work, visit www.basics-devon.org.uk
The National Lottery Community Fund recently launched its strategy, ‘It starts with community’, which will underpin its efforts to distribute at least £4 billion of National Lottery funding by 2030.
As part of this, the funder has four key missions, which are to support communities to come together, be environmentally sustainable, help children and young people thrive and enable people to live healthier lives.
National Lottery players raise over £30 million a week for good causes across the UK. Thanks to them, last year (2023/24) The National Lottery Community Fund awarded over half a billion pounds (£686.3 million) of life-changing funding to communities across the UK, supporting over 13,700 projects to turn their great ideas into reality.
To find out more visit www.TNLCommunityFund.org.uk
Notes to Editors:
About BASICS Devon
BASICS Devon is a network of 15 emergency volunteer medics providing immediate access to specialist medical care at the scene of an accident or illness. Making themselves available around the clock throughout the year, responding to incidents at the request of the South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust. The charity relies solely on donations.
BASICS Devon doctors aim to provide a fast response to incidents in rural areas and use their extensive skills to support patient care.
For further information, to donate or get involved please visit: www.basics-devon.org.uk
T: 01752 936299
About The National Lottery Community Fund
We are the largest non-statutory community funder in the UK – community is at the heart of our purpose, vision and name.
We support activities that create resilient communities that are more inclusive and environmentally sustainable and that will strengthen society and improve lives across the UK.
We’re proud to award money raised by National Lottery players to communities across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, and to work closely with government to distribute vital grants and funding from key Government programmes and initiatives.
As well as responding to what communities tell us is important to them, our funding is focused on four key missions, supporting communities to:
1. Come together
2. Be environmentally sustainable
3. Help children and young people thrive
4. Enable people to live healthier lives.
Thanks to the support of National Lottery players, we distribute over £600 million a year through 13,000+ grants and plan to invest over £4 billion of funding into communities by 2030. We’re privileged to be able to work with the smallest of local groups right up to UK-wide charities, enabling people and communities to bring their ambitions to life.
National Lottery players raise over £30 million each week for good causes throughout the UK. Since The National Lottery began in 1994, £49 billion has been raised and more than 690,000 individual grants have been made across the UK - the equivalent of around 240 National Lottery grants in every UK postcode district.
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