As NHS staff across the country continue to work under extreme pressure, South Central Ambulance Charity will now be able to provide crucial support to help improve the wellbeing of ambulance staff working for South Central Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust (SCAS). Thanks to a £250,000 grant from NHS Charities Together and NHS England, the charity will be creating a new approach to proactive and preventative trauma support for ambulance staff across Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Hampshire and Oxfordshire.
Through this funding we will be supporting new starters, first year higher education student paramedics and new volunteers to be better prepared before exposure, providing scheduled, clinician-led coaching during their initial six months in post. The project aims to promote healthy coping mechanisms, early recognition of the impact of trauma and a reduction in the stigma associated with seeking help. The model aims to reduce sickness absence, staff attrition and escalation of need, while improving staff experience and equity of access for support.
The grant has been awarded as part of a £11 million programme which includes a £5 million contribution from NHS England and is one of 61 ambitious projects across England to receive funding from the programme since its launch in 2024.
The NHS England Culture Review of Ambulance Trusts identifies chronic trauma exposure and predominantly reactive wellbeing models as drivers of low morale, burn out and disengagement. Transformation requires prevention first, trauma informed systems spanning individual, team and organisational levels. This programme reframes trauma support as a default organisational responsibility.
Chief People Officer / Deputy Chief Executive at SCAS, Danny Hariram said: “We are incredibly grateful to NHS Charities Together and NHS England for this funding. Working alongside South Central Ambulance Charity, we will create and deliver a trauma informed awareness programme that will give new starters and student paramedics tools to better understand trauma, recognise healthy responses, practical coping strategies and how to access support.”
NHS staff are the driving force behind our healthcare system, but they are currently working in some of the toughest conditions in history, with growing pressure from increased demand for health services and rising NHS vacancies. The latest NHS England staff survey results showed that nearly one in three NHS workers described themselves as ‘burnt out’ and 42% said they had experienced work related stress. This means the need for targeted, sustainable support has never been greater and NHS charities like South Central Ambulance Charity are uniquely positioned to provide this.
CEO at South Central Ambulance Charity, Vanessa Casey, said: “The charity is delighted to continue working alongside the SCAS health and wellbeing team to introduce a transformative programme that will deliver support to individuals across the trust. This project will create a step change in supporting the wellbeing of our staff and volunteers aligning charity support alongside SCAS strategic priorities.”
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