CAF UK has launched a brand-new programme to offer First Aid to its community partners.
The first course was delivered to Voluntary, Community, and Social Enterprise (VCSE) organisations and the Youth Hub in Doncaster on Tuesday, February 24.
Others will follow at Smartworks Leeds in April and at HMP Armley in May, with future courses to be offered across the West and South Yorkshire regions and London.
The one-day First Aid course includes Basic Life Support & Resuscitation and Automated External Defibrillator Training, along with how to deal with some of the most common health emergency issues like Choking, Bleeding, Seizures, Burns, and Eye Injuries.
Its aim is to support CAF’s work with unemployed people to boost confidence and to help individuals be more work-ready by arming them with valuable knowledge and First Aid competency.
Lucy Smith, Social Value Delivery Partner for CAF Rail UK, said: “This is a course that we identified within CAF which can be delivered in the community as an essential life skill.
“Our goal is always to strengthen our community partnerships and to help bring about lasting positive change in social mobility and societal cohesion, and we felt that this could do that.”
She added: “The social value team at CAF is driven to support our local communities in any way we can, and to create opportunities that are productive and rewarding.
“With many programmes offering employability skills, we wanted to provide something extra for our community partners, and this not only boosts people’s personal skills and self-esteem but also demonstrates a proactive approach to an employer.
“Taking these things into a work environment shows the ability to think critically, calmly and take ownership in different situations. People can also take the skills into the areas where they live, and ultimately, they could help save lives.”
The First Aid course can accommodate up to 10 people and lasts at least 6 hours. After completing it, all who do so successfully receive an accepted certificate, valid for 3 years, which will enhance their CV and support job applications.
Nine people attended the first course.
Steve Aiton, Training and Competence Lead for CAF Rail Services, says the First Aid course provided participants with essential skills that could dramatically enhance survival rates in the event of an emergency. It could also, he added, lead to better outcomes – for example, prompt and correct intervention following a burn injury can prevent or reduce scarring and hasten recovery.
He went on: “A First Aid course builds confidence in people’s ability to act in a crisis and means they can offer immediate care for injuries.
“It was a privilege not just to help people master basic First Aid skills but to be able to help widen their knowledge and experience to help them at home and in the workplace.”
Steve said: “It was a thoroughly enjoyable experience with huge efforts on behalf of everyone, which were especially appreciated given that there were language challenges for some.
“Everyone left having learned valuable life-saving skills, and I, for one, appreciate their undertaking.”
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