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FAST

FAST

First Aid Support Team (FAST), is an organisation made up of qualified volunteer health care professionals coming together to provide first aid to displaced people in Northern France. We deliver first aid and basic health care, as well as providing certain hygiene items to prevent the development and spread of illnesses. Where users of our service require medical support beyond the scope of first aid, we triage to other services to ensure appropriate care is delivered. FAST also works closely with other NGO’s in the vicinity, providing first aid training to their volunteers. 

We strongly believe that basic health care, being treated with dignity and respect are basic human rights and apply these values in our day to day efforts when assisting people who have been forced from their homes by violence, persecution and poverty.

  • Where is it?

    Northern France: Calais & Dunkirk

  • What will I be doing?

    Volunteer Field Coordinator: Qualified healthcare professional (Dr, nurse, paramedic etc) leads the team of health care volunteers providing first aid care, manages schedules and first aid supplies; liaises with other NGO’s and ensure’s good communication and relationships are fostered with these organisations, provides first aid training to non medical health care volunteers volunteering with other NGO’s, maintains regular contact with the FAST board.

    Volunteer Field Worker: Qualified healthcare provider (Dr, nurse, paramedic, AHP, certified first aider) provides essential first aid care and triage to undocumented migrants of no fixed abode in the field. Advises on general health concerns. Maintains a record of numbers and scope of service provided for governance purposes, refers to appropriate health care providers for emergency care and when care is out of the scope of practice of FAST. Network work with other NGO’s and provide first aid training to other NGO volunteers as directed by field coordinator. Maintain stock levels and report on stock required. 

    Please note FAST is happy to support nursing and medical students undertaking their “Electives”.
     

  • What impact would I have?

    Access to healthcare is limited for displaced people in Northern France. Many suffer from untreated illnesses and injuries due to a lack of access to medical facilities and resources. Health care professionals volunteering with FAST, help to fill this gap. In 2022, our data shows that we provided aid on 9770 occasions to displaced people, and made 658 referrals to other healthcare professionals ensuring those in need, received the specialised care they required.

  • Who will I be working with?

    Volunteers care for displaced people, working alongside other volunteer health care professionals and healthcare students.

  • Minimum age

    18

  • Accommodation

    Volunteer Field Coordinator: a small stipend is provided to assist with living costs. Fields coordinators are required to stay a minimum of 3 months, a vehicle with fuel allowance is provided.

    Volunteer Field Worker: volunteers self fund accommodation, volunteers are signposted to information on accommodation, ranging from shared houses, hostels, AirBnB and hotels.
     

  • Extra Costs

    Travel
    Food
    Travel insurance

  • Skills needed

    • Car / Truck Driver (field coordinator only)
    • Dentist
    • Doctor
    • France
    • Health Care
    • Health Educator
    • Midwife
    • Nurse
    • Paramedic
    • Physiotherapist

  • Interested in volunteering?

    Apply here

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