Chairman's Blog

A quiet month or so in terms of responding, unlike exactly one year ago when we were just starting the delivery of antivirals during the swine flu pandemic!

 

The warm dry weather has clearly not resulted in any situations we might be required for but we have been keeping busy in other ways.

 

Our attendance at Stevenage Day was a bit more successful than Classics on the Green, with one new member already as a result and we even got a few donations.

 

On the National scene I attended the National meet and AGM at Frickley near Doncaster. It was a shame that no one else from the group could make it as it was a fun weekend. I'll be posting some pictures in the gallery soon. I was also re-elected as a Trustee of the charity and retain the roles of both Secretary and Treasurer on the basis I must have been doing OK up to now.

 

As a group we had our first formal committee meeting this week and the future direction of the group has been set. In summary we intend to pursue:

 

Training

 

First Aid Awareness Training and Fire Awareness Training  for all members

Tying in to the proposed National Capabilities Framework

Investigating level 1 Water Awareness training

 

Events

 

A Navigation Exercise/Treasure Hunt

A fundraising Off Road day at Yarwell in partnership with BHC 4x4 Response

A stand at the LRO Show at Peterborough in September

We are also looking for potential fundraising events throughout the County.

 

So hopefully we will be in a strong position if we do get some extreme weather over the winter.

 

Regards

 

Tony

 

 

A quiet month in many ways although we did start off with the Classics on the Green at Croxley Green.

 

Although not perhaps the right "crowd" for 4x4 Response (unless you have a "classic 4x4" I suppose) so not a lot of interest. However we did get one membership enquiry and had a good chat with one of the Councillors from Three Rivers Council.

 

We also managed to get our new branded polo shirts ready for the event so had the ability to look corporate, however the weather didn't cooperate with our plans. But in the end having to wear our 4x4 Response hi-viz jacklets all day just to keep warm acheived the same consistent image for all of us.

 

Next on the Calender is our attendance at Stevenage Day on Sunday 13th June from 1.00pm to 5.00pm. I hope to see you there!

 

I have also been having some very interesting discussions with Hertfordshire Police regarding our status with them and that looks to bode well for the future, watch this space!

Once again it seems ages since my last post... because it is!

 

Note to self, keep the Blog up to date!!!

 

So was has happened since December? After the week of snow before Christmas, it all went and happened again in January. Once again we were in the thick of it with numerous calls to assist meals on wheels and home carer visits. Other planned call outs for Children's and Family Services (County Council) and the East of England Ambulance Service were cancelled as conditions improved.

 

A new departure was providing back up to SERV, the motorcycle bloodrunner volunteers, in parnership with BHC 4x4 Response. In the event we were not required but it did help forge new relationship within the emergency volunteer community.

 

We also got lots of publicity through local press and on the web and I even did an interview on BBC Three Counties Radio. Not sure how many people were listening at 06.50 on a Saturday morning mind you!

 

Since then things had been quiet until last week until we held our AGM. A new committee with lots of new ideas has seen the start of a new phase in the development of Hertfordshire 4x4 Response.

 

As you will have seen we have a new design for the website and a members forum to improve communication.

 

We will be attending a few events this year to promote the group starting with the Classic Car show on Croxley Green (Watford) on 9th May.

 

We will hopefully be sporting new polo shirts by then to display our new corporate image adding to the new hi-viz jackets we recently received as a result of the National 4x4 Response sponsorship deals from Community Resilience.

 

Membership is looking healthy despite a couple of resignations with 31 members at the moment. Hopefully some of the events will help to bring in new members too.

 

Other developments are a training programme that is being put together to really enhance our capabilities.

 

Regards

 

Tony

Well that makes a change from Swine Flu!

 

Hertfordshire was hit by up to 15cm off snow last night but call outs have been surprisingly light. Main roads and towns seem to have on the whole gritted on time and although covered in snow this morning, were passable.

Side roads and country lanes were a different prospect and that's where we have been able to help, assisting meals on wheels and social care workers to get to their clients.

 

Over the border in Bedfordshire, our new Neighbours BHC 4x4 Response were kept busy this morning after the A1 was blocked at Bigglewade and they assisted with getting supplies to drivers trapped in their vehicles.

 

We are hearing reports of similar activity up the east side of the country but after all that's what we are here for!

Well Swine Flu seems to be settling down again with signs that the second wave may be reaching its peak in the next week or two. OK so history tells us that a third wave could still occur so no time for complacency but it seems we have been spared the major outbreak that many were predicting. What does seem to be fairly clear is that we are unlikely to be called on again for anti-viral deliveries unless things get really bad.

 

I have been assisting Beds, Herts and Cambs Land Rover Club in the setting up of what looks likely to be "Beds & Cambs 4x4 Response". In addition to providing full coverage in the Eastern Region, there is the likelyhood of being able to work in cooperation with the club and possibly share training and assessment facilities.

 

I have also been approached to do a TV interview. Only a speculative recording at the moment but the producer hopes to sell it as a 30 minute programme to the likes of "Men & Motors" and possibly one of the "lesser" ITV channels.

 

Well we now look forward to the Winter to see what it will bring. The first Severe Weather warnings are starting to appear already in the West and Wales, so you never know we could be in action again before too long.

 

 

Well it seems the rush is finally over!

 

Volunteer swine flu deliveries ceased last Tuesday, with thirty six individual pick ups between Friday 24th July and Tuesday 4th August, resulting in one hundred and four individual deliveries.

 

Well done to everybody involved, we have certainly put the name of Hertfordshire 4x4 Response on the map, both in the County and across the region. This is especially important as it showed other Primary Care Trusts just what a well organised and dedicated group of volunteers can do.

 

Obviously I have heard comments about providing courier services "on the cheap" but a quick analysis of figures showed that on many days our mileage claims exceeded what the new courier contact is costing in Hertfordshire.

 

Indeed I have heard that a couple of PCTs in the region have used the British Red Cross, who asked for a "donation" of £10,000 up front and then charged £50 per delivery!

 

I suppose that is the result of using a charity that also has a track record of charging for it's services.

 

Well things are looking like they are settling down now with the numbers of swine flu cases in sharp decline. Biggest problem now is planning for mass vaccination in the Autumn and second guessing what the pandemic might do in the anticipated second wave.

 

Cheers

 

Tony

 

Well how quickly things change!

 

We are now into day two of delivering anti virals to the "Flu Friendless" (what a horrible term). Things seemed quite busy on Friday with eight deliveries carried out (a couple being multiples to the same address).

 

Saturday has seen things quieten down a bit with only one call out in the morning and three in the afternoon.

 

Reports from the two Anti-viral Collection Points (ACP) in Hertfordshire seem to be that they are doing steady business but are not being overwhelmed. The plans are to open another four ACPs in the coming week, as well as the possibility of some pharmacies being able to work with the National Pandemic Flu Service, which should ease the situation.

 

Although it has been mentioned that using 4x4 Response to do this is like using a sledgehammer to crack a nut. True you don't need 4x4s any volunteer with a car could do it but the important point is that we are an organised group, with the necessary insurances and our skills lie in providing reliable transport in an emergency situation, which is exactly what we are doing.

Well the day job is certainly keeping me busy with Swine Flu spreading wider every day!

 

The National Pandemic Flu Service goes live tomorrow and this means that PCTs are having to set up Anti-viral Collection Points (ACPs) for "Flu Friends" to visit and collect anti-viral tablets for their sick friends.

 

We, along with other voluntary agencies in Hertfordshire have been asked if we can assist with both helping out at ACPs (exact role to be decided) or in delivering anti-virals to those people without flu friends.

 

As a result we are now official on standby in case we are called on to assist at short notice.

OK, OK.... yes I know I should do this more often!

 

I can't believe it has been six months since my last blog post. Things have been really busy but that's not much of an excuse.

 

February saw our first operational call outs in the week of snow with Jason (HT02) having the honour of our first call out. Which ironically enough wasn't even in Hertfordshire as he was called to assist a Paramedic to get to work from near Bedford to Amptill Ambulance Station. The rest of the week saw several call outs but also a number of abortive calls too. This I supposed is to be expected as we were still untried with many of the user agencies and it took a little time to show just what our capabilities are.

 

The following week, I attended a national workshop on "Community Resilience" organised by the Civil Contingencies Secretariat of the Cabinet Office. This was to kick start the Government's agenda for community resilience i.e. communities helping themselves in times of need. Now why does that sound familiar! It was a meeting of voluntry agencies and professionals and it was pleasing to realise just how well known 4x4 Response is becoming.

 

Other good news is that we are on the point of signing a Memorandum of Understanding with HEVEC, the Hertfordshire Emergency Volunteers Committee (Part of the Hertfordshire Resilience Forum), more details on the News Page.

 

We now have our first delivery of jackets, so can present a professional image when called out or attending events. any members who have not yet got one, do get in touch. I am now investigating some hi-viz vests given that we seem to be moving into a heat wave!

 

The 4x4 Response first National AGM was held on the 21st June and I was formerly voted in as National Treasurer, a role I had previously only volunteered myself for. Bob Hatcher (Wessex) was confirmed as Chairman and Alasdair Kirk (Gloucestershire) as Secretary. We also gained two additional trustees in the shape of Simon Bentley (Yorks & Lincs) and Paul Johns (PJ) (Hants & Berks), which will help to share the load.

 

Well that's all for now, hopefully you won't have to wait vanother six months to read anything here!

Seems like ages since I was last here.... because it is!

 

Things are moving ahead nicely, we now have third party liability insurance for the group through the National Charity, so hopefully we can start offering our services to events this year in a support role and maybe do some fundraising too.

 

We are also in the process of formalising our agreement with the East of England Ambulance Service. Although we have no problems there as they have once again put us on standby for the predicted snow later this weekend.

 

Just in the process of sorting uniform jackets, so we should be able to present a professional image very soon!