Bridgnorth, Shropshire – Nearly 25 years after answering their first emergency call, the Bridgnorth Community First Responders (CFR) are celebrating their milestone anniversary with a new addition to their life-saving fleet: a rugged Dacia Duster Extreme 4×4.
The volunteer-run group, established in 2001 to support the West Midlands Ambulance Service in rural areas, has become a vital link in the emergency response chain. Eleven trained volunteers now form the backbone of the Bridgnorth CFR team, each trained in advanced first aid to deliver critical care in the minutes that matter most before an ambulance arrives.
This year alone, the team has already attended over 70 emergency calls—surpassing last year’s total—with incidents ranging from cardiac arrests to road traffic accidents and medical emergencies in hard-to-reach locations.
A Practical and Purpose-Built Upgrade
To continue delivering their vital service across the challenging terrain of rural Shropshire, the group recently replaced their decade-old vehicle with the Dacia Duster Extreme 4×4—chosen for its reliability, versatility, and value.
“As we’re often called to rural locations in all weathers, we realised we needed a more reliable and capable four-wheel-drive vehicle,” explained David Yates, Chairman and First Responder for the Bridgnorth team. “The Duster met all our requirements. It’s rugged enough for the countryside, affordable for our charity-run scheme, and very economical to run. It’s also become a real talking point at community events!”
The new vehicle was sourced through Budgen Motors, made possible through a combination of grant funding and generous in-kind support, ensuring that the purchase stayed within the tight budget of the donation-funded charity.
Driven by Volunteers, Powered by Community
Unlike traditional emergency services, Community First Responders receive no regular government funding. The Bridgnorth CFR group relies entirely on public donations and volunteer commitment to stay operational. Its members come from all walks of life—engineers, teachers, and retirees—united by a shared goal: to deliver rapid, life-saving care when it’s needed most.
“The dedication of the Bridgnorth CFR team over the past 25 years is truly inspiring,” said Luke Broad, Dacia Brand Director for the UK. “We’re honoured to support their work with a vehicle that’s built for reliability, capability and value. It’s exactly what their challenging role demands.”
A National Movement on the Move
The Bridgnorth team joins a growing number of Community First Responder groups across the UK choosing the Dacia Duster as their trusted emergency response vehicle. Its blend of rugged durability, low running costs and all-weather capability makes it particularly well-suited for life-saving work in remote and rural communities.
As the group looks ahead to its 25th anniversary, their new Duster marks more than just a vehicle upgrade—it represents a renewed commitment to the people of Shropshire, ensuring help continues to arrive swiftly, even in the most challenging conditions.
For more information about Bridgnorth Community First Responders, or to support their work, visit www.bridgnorthcfr.co.uk.
