FLEET’s original mission was clear: to standardise ambulance equipment across the county. And thanks to our supporters and clinical partners, we achieved just that.
As the landscape of emergency services evolved – with the merging and expansion of ambulance trusts – FLEET has adapted its mission. Today, our focus is firmly on supporting the wider community through the provision of public-access emergency equipment and life-saving training.
Over the years, we’ve delivered a number of impactful projects, including:
- Standardising ambulance equipment and vehicle layouts across Cornwall
- Supporting the establishment of Paramedic Motorcycle Response Units through funding and equipment
- Supplying vital medical equipment to local Search and Rescue teams, including air support units
- Installing over 270 public-access defibrillators across Cornwall – from urban towns to the most rural hamlets
- Delivering essential community training in CPR and AED use, helping to improve out-of-hospital cardiac arrest survival rates
- Providing advanced trauma care training to frontline clinicians through Pre-Hospital Trauma Life Support (PHTLS) courses – ensuring patients receive world-class emergency care at the scene
Our charity is powered primarily by public donations, community fundraising, and small grants. One of our major annual fundraising events is the London Marathon, where our incredible volunteers take on the 26.2-mile course through the capital. The funds raised directly support our work here in Cornwall, funding community projects that save lives.
Much of our operational work is carried out by a small team of volunteers, while our training programmes are supported by a wider group of highly skilled clinicians who generously donate their time and expertise.
Most recently, we’ve been working to tackle the critical issue of severe blood loss before emergency services arrive. In collaboration with Bleed Control UK, another local Cornish initiative, we’ve developed and distributed bleed control kits. These kits have now been added to all of our public-access defibrillator cabinets and are accessible via the 999 system. Callers are given step-by-step instructions to manage catastrophic bleeding – offering vital help in those first few minutes that can mean the difference between life and death.
Thanks to the incredible support we received following the 2025 London Marathon, we’ve now provided free bleed control kits to every school and college in Cornwall. While the rise in knife-related incidents is a tragic reality, these kits are not only for violent injuries – they are just as valuable in accidents and recreational incidents where severe bleeding may occur. This project was delivered in partnership with Mike’s Trust, founded in memory of Mike Riddiough-Allen, who tragically lost his life in a knife attack outside a nightclub in Bodmin in 2023. We stand alongside Mike’s family in their mission to raise awareness and drive change.
Looking ahead, our next major initiative is to expand the rollout of bleed control kits to pubs, clubs, and other public venues with high footfall across Cornwall. Our aim is simple: to give every person the best possible chance of surviving a critical incident – wherever and whenever it may occur.
FLEET remains committed to supporting emergency care, empowering communities, and saving lives – right here in Cornwall.