The East Midlands Ambulance Service has highlighted the vital role of its peer support volunteers in Wellingborough and across Northamptonshire to help staff manage stress and keep more ambulances on the road. As of February 24, 2026, the service has 139 peer support and pastoral care volunteers across the region who are trained to listen to their colleagues and signpost them to the right mental health support. This initiative aims to reduce staff sickness and ensure that enough crews are available to respond to local emergencies.
The volunteers are based at various locations, including the Wellingborough Ambulance Station on Irthlingborough Road. These workers are not professional counsellors, but they have been trained in active listening techniques to identify when a team member might be struggling. By providing a friendly ear after difficult shifts, the service hopes to prevent burnout among frontline workers who face high pressure every day.
This focus on staff wellbeing follows a difficult period in 2025 when the service reported its slowest average response times for the most serious calls. Long delays at hospitals, where crews often had to wait to hand over patients, meant fewer ambulances were free to attend new incidents. By supporting the mental health of its employees, the service aims to improve its reliability and reduce the number of staff members who have to take time off due to the demands of the job.
The volunteer network includes experienced staff members like Mick Clarke, a domestic staff member who has been helping his colleagues in this role for more than 13 years. By fostering a supportive culture, the ambulance service is working to ensure that its professionals stay healthy and ready to serve the community in Wellingborough and the surrounding areas.
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