A TEAM of volunteer medics who help deliver emergency care, has been awarded the King’s Award for Voluntary Service.

BASICS Devon, which delivers emergency pre-hospital care and vital life-saving education, has received the award which is the highest given to voluntary groups and the equivalent to an MBE.

The organisation, which has two doctors from Chudleigh on the team, is one of 231 charities, social enterprises and voluntary groups to receive the award, announced on the King’s birthday November 14, which recognises outstanding work by local volunteer groups to support their communities.

Representatives of BASICS Devon will receive the award crystal and certificate from David Fursdon, Lord-Lieutenant of Devon in the coming months.

And two volunteers from BASICS Devon will attend a Royal Garden Party at Buckingham Palace in May and June 2026, along with other recipients of this year’s award.

Among the team are trustee Dr Lauren Weekes and secretary Dr Simon Scott-Hayward who are both from Chudleigh.

BASICS Devon has received the award for its exceptional standards of volunteering, innovation, and impact giving time to save lives, now and over the last 33 years since it was established.

Robert Horton, chairman of BASICS Devon, said: ‘This recognition is a tremendous tribute to our dedicated team of volunteers who give their time and expertise to support patients and emergency services across Devon, often in the most challenging circumstances.

'Every call-out represents a moment when someone in our community is facing their worst day, and our volunteers’ step forward, day and night to bring emergency care to the scene.

'This award reflects not only their professionalism and selflessness, but also the invaluable support we receive from our families, partners in the emergency services, and our supporters and donors across Devon.

‘Every penny raised goes towards our delivery of voluntary service.

‘On behalf of the trustees, I want to thank everyone who plays a part in making our work possible.’

BASICS Devon are specialist volunteers delivering emergency pre-hospital care and vital life-saving education.

They support communities across Devon 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

Comprised of highly trained volunteer medics, the charity responds to some of the most serious medical emergencies, supporting South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust.

From road traffic collisions on rural lanes to cardiac arrests in remote villages, the charity’s clinicians bring immediate care directly to the scene, often arriving before an ambulance.

This year so far, the team has responded to 321 emergencies — 111 of them at night — covering more than 4,500 miles to save lives.

They were first on scene in 40 per cent of incidents, responding to 94 road traffic collisions, 68 cardiac arrests, 10 psychiatric crises, seven obstetric emergencies, and six stabbings or shootings.

Beyond that, they’ve answered 136 other desperate calls for help, from burns and drownings to urgent medical and trauma cases, each one a moment when every second counted.

Operating entirely through public donations and local fundraising, BASICS Devon receives no government funding.

The charity is currently appealing for community support in its Big Give Christmas Challenge from December 2 to 9 where for one week only thanks to pledgers and Reed Foundation, all donations will be doubled.