£1,000 has been donated to emergency first responders in Earley recently, allowing them to buy essential equipment.

Lower Earley and Earley Community First Responders, part of the South Central Ambulance Charity, was given £1,000 by housebuilding company Persimmon Homes North London, as a part of their Community Champions Scheme.

The scheme financially supports groups that aid over-70s for the foreeable future, donating up to two donations of up to £1,000 every month.

ALSO READ: Earley: Wokingham Borough Council confirms travellers have moved on from site

Paul Robson, spokesman for the group, said: “If a full ambulance crew is deployed to a non-injury fall their target arrival time is within three hours.

"With funding for the right equipment, one of our local responders can attend in under 30 minutes to assess the faller and, by using the lifting cushion, can help them get up off the floor.

"This quick response often removes the need for a trip to hospital and a full ambulance attendance.

"The lifting cushion will be shared across our local team allowing them to respond to a greater number of calls.

ALSO READ: Thousands in Reading to lose free TV licence

"Over the last 12 months, our team has given more than 2,000 hours of volunteering."

The Earley first responders, now for the first time, attend non-injury falls using the Mangar Elk Cushion, which the funds will be spent on.

Rachel Faulkner, Sales director for Persimmon Homes, said: “We believe in supporting the local communities where we build and can see that our donation will certainly help many people in difficulties after a fall, especially the elderly."