At First For Safety Oxfordshire, ALL our fantastic instructors are serving
Emergency Services Professionals with years of experience.
We offer a wide range of affordable courses & services.
Book with us today by completing our Contact Form & we will forward you our availability.
We cover Witney, Oxfordshire & surrounding counties.
My interest in first aid & life saving started when I was just 8 & entered a life saving competition at our local swimming pool. I realised from an early age that I was able to stay calm in stressful situations & excelled in the competition. At secondary school I took an option in First Aid Studies & also learnt first aid for my Duke of Edinburgh Award. After leaving school, I worked as a Life Guard around my studies before becoming a Police Officer (TVP). At 23 years of age I qualified as a Riot Squad Medic. After 5 years in the Police I fancied a change & joined Oxfordshire Fire & Rescue Service as an Operational Fire Fighter. In 2009 I became the first & to date, only female FF in OFRS to qualify & work on the Specialist Rescue Unit based in Kidlington.
After having our 2 beautiful children I was unable to work part-time as a FF so moved into the Ambulance Service working front line on emergency ambulances. For more than 27 years I’ve loved working in all 3 Emergency Services but especially enjoy working on Emergency Ambulances. We frequently work in partnership with my previous Police & Fire Service colleagues. It’s always lovely to see them. With regards to our Horse Rider Specific Emergency First Aid Course, I’m also qualified to BHSAI.
First aid/trauma qualifications & experience:
Current – 9 yrs Ambulance Service, Emergency Care Assistant (Assistant to Paramedics on Emergency Ambulances) – Trained in Basic Life Support, Airway management, Oxygen, Entonox, AED, Assisting with Advanced Life Support, Catastrophic Bleeds, Tourniquets & Clotting Agent, Immobilisation. Driving Emergency Vehicles.
14 yrs Operational Fire Fighter. (Oxfordshire Fire & Rescue Service)
3.5 yrs spent on Specialist Rescue Unit: Dealing with all complicated Road Traffic Collisions, multiple casualty/vehicle RTC’s, RTC’s involving HGV’s. Water Rescue including: Swift Water Rescue, Entrapment in Water Rescue ie vehicle, weirs etc. Rescues using Rigid Inflatable Boat. Ice Rescue. Line Rescue. Also trained in: Managing unconscious casualty in water. Confined Space Rescue, Collapsed Structure Rescue, Trench Collapse, Rescues using chain saws/disc cutters to release trapped casualties.
FPOS Intermediate Trained (First Person On Scene) x 2
Enhanced Trauma Trained (Drowning, Immersion Hypothermia, Suspension Trauma, Airways, Oxygen, Entonox, Catastrophic Bleeds, Tourniquets & Clotting Agent, Defibrillation, Casualty Immobilisation for suspected Spinal Injuries)
2010 Qualified as First Aid Instructor inc PTLLS (Preparing to Teach in the Lifelong Learning Sector)
2009 Qualified as Swift Water Rescue Technician.
2002 ITV Survivor, Series 2 Contestant (Drew Agger) An amazing experience where my First Aid Skills were put to use on several occasions!
5 yrs Police Officer & Riot Squad Medic. (Thames Valley Police)
Numerous First Aid at Work Re-qualifications.
Twice Qualified Pool Life Guard.
Recreational PADI Rescue Diver.
12 yrs Mummy x 2 – Professional kiss-it-all-betterer!
Amy qualified as a paediatric nurse 23 years ago (respect!) and is incredibly passionate about her job and the roles she's had within. Currently Amy works as a school nurse during term time and at the JR hospital on the adolescent ward during the school holidays and weekends. Both roles are very different. Amy says, "I get so much from being able to support well children the community at school and not so well children in hospitals".
As a mum of 3 children, as well as a furry child, Amy's life, like so many of us, is bonkers busy! Yet somehow, she still finds time to teach First Aid for First For Safety Oxfordshire and she's brilliant at it with a natural ability to impart her vast knowledge with a friendly, engaging delivery. In Amy's words, "I love to find time for teaching first aid. Meeting new people and empowering them with new skills is wonderful and I’m delighted to be a part of the team!" Well, we're delighted to have you on the team!"
Introducing Paramedic Kate who joined the First For Safety Oxfordshire Team in early 2022. Kate's another of our very experienced Paramedics having been frontline Ambulance Service for 15 years. Prior to that, she worked in the Ambulance Control Room answering emergency calls. If Kate hasn't managed an emergency in person, she's dealt with it over the phone, a lady of multiple talents.
Kate's very family orientated, a proud aunty to twins and mummy to her furry baby Frank, a big boy Maine coon, likely the largest domestic cat you would have ever seen! Kate delivers both our accredited courses for businesses, schools & organisations, as well as our short, non accredited sessions. When Kate's not busy teaching or working ambulance shifts, she's nuts about anything Formula 1. We're talking proper spotter, (in a cool way) often off to races etc, there's nothing she doesn't know about the sport, it's very impressive. Like all our fabulous instructors, Kates's delivery is relaxed, hands-on, upbeat & fun & her jokes are equally as bad as the rest of ours. lol. Great to have you on the team Kate!
Meet Paramedic Lizzie - "I've always enjoyed working with people. At age 18 I joined TVP as a Special Constable (voluntary Police Officer) but I knew I didn't want to become a PC & at 21 yrs of age, decided to give the Ambulance Service a go, immediately realising it was my undiscovered passion! 12 years later & I still love it. I've done every patient-facing role within the service & am respectfully known as "Old School" Alongside my career as a Paramedic, I love being able to continue helping people by teaching first aid because I know firsthand the difference it makes! With 2 babies under my belt, a husband, cat & 2 dogs, we've had our fair share of first-aid emergencies over the years! It's great to be on the First For Safety Oxfordshire Team
Welcome Lizzie!!! We're all so happy to have you on the team!!
Steph has been in the ambulance service for over 10 years. She’s an experienced full time, serving paramedic as well as an experienced first aid instructor. Steph is our ‘sporty spice’ of the group and shames us all with her super fitness as a very keen and accomplished cyclist. Steph works alongside our other qualified first aid instructors in the delivery of our fantastic value, accredited first aid courses for businesses as well as short courses for the general public. She’s an awesome Instructor that will make your course up beat, interactive and fun. We love having smiley Steph on the First for Safety Oxfordshire team!
Laurence, (Lovely Laurence as we call him), is a serving Fire Fighter who is a relaxed & friendly instructor. He has extensive first aid experience having worked front line on emergency ambulances as well as being a Community First Responder. Laurence is a very enthusiastic trainer, in his words, "I just love empowering kids & adults with life skills that could one day save their life or that of another"
Laurence's background is originally business & marketing but he soon realised his passion was first aid & fire safety. Nowadays he spends more time responding to life threatening emergencies rather than emails!
Laurence lives locally in Eynsham. A father of two (boy & girl), he loves animals, outdoor activities, rugby, more rugby! & any other time left around rugby, he enjoys guitar.
Qualifications/experience include:
Immediate Emergency Care (IEC) qualified - Current Inc: Oxygen/AED/Airways
Incident Command L1
Emergency Response Driving
Mental Health First Aid L2
IOSH Health & Safety
Institute of Fire Engineers L2, Operations
Meet Paramedic Matt. We call him Marvellous Matt! I’ve personally known Matt for many years and can honestly say he’s one of the nicest people you could wish to meet. He’s an excellent, respected Paramedic with 23 years' experience in the emergency services. Over the years, Matt has worked in various teams and has trained and mentored paramedic students. Matt brings a calming, light-hearted atmosphere to any situation which is what makes him such a fantastic first aid instructor. As well as offering First For Safety Oxfordshire his precious time, Matt works alongside other health teams as a registered practitioner, examining, educating and treating patients in the community.
Matt lives in Wantage area with his wife, daughter and Olive the dog. He enjoys travelling, motor bikes, motor bikes and more motor bikes!! Matt is largely responsible for our courses held around Wantage, Lambourn, Faringdon, Chilton and Swindon area.
Justin's background is 22 years as a professional full time Fire Fighter with the Fire & Rescue Services. He started his fire service career in New Zealand, (his home land) in 2001 and transferred to the UK in 2007. Justin has first hand experience of administering first aid in hostile environments. Justin uses his amazing experience to deliver quality, realistic Fire Safety & First Aid Training, across Oxfordshire & the UK.
Justin’s extensive experience and qualifications include:
Current – Fire Service Officer & Ambulance Service Community First Responder. Trained in Basic Life Support including airway management, oxygen & AED.
2022 XACT SFJ L4 National Diploma in Fire Safety (Fire Inspectors)
2021 - BRE Fire Door Inspector Certificate
2020 - Forestry First Aid Instructor EFAW+F
2020 - First Aid Instructor Nuco.
2016 - Level 3 Fire Safety Certificate.
2015 – Fire Service Co responders IEC course inc airway management, oxygen & AED.
2013 – First Person on Scene Intermediate qualified. (FPOSI)
2012 – Water Rescue Technician Instructor.
2012 – Emergency First Aid at Work qualified. (EFAW)
2012 – Preparing to Teach in the Life Long Learning Sector qualified. (PTLLS)
2010 – 2014 – Fire Service Training Instructor.
2009 – Managing Safety IOSH qualified.
2008 – South Central Ambulance Service Trauma Management Course.
2001 – 2007 Numerous NZ First Aid, trauma & AED requalifications
PADI Rescue Diver qualified
10 years Daddy, professional kiss it all betterer!
Please welcome our latest member to the First For Safety Oxfordshire Team, brilliant Instructor & serving Fire Fighter James. James's background is initially in the armed forces where he served all over the world for more than 6 yrs, including the Falklands & Iraq. He then commenced his Fire Service career in a large Met Brigade, completing 9 years service before moving to Oxfordshire. Like all our brilliant serving Emergency Services Instructors, James delivers upbeat, dynamic Fire Safety Training using his extensive experience to enrich courses. He's a natural trainer, people can't help not to immediately warm to his friendly, relaxed disposition.
Outside of his Fire Service shifts and teaching Fire Safety courses with First For Safety Oxfordshire, Jame's passion is travel, his particular favorite destinations include South America, Asia & Australia. Super great to have you on board James, another asset to our team!
Clare's our most recent trainer to join the First For Safety Oxfordshire Team & is a qualified Instructor delivering our accredited courses in Mental Health & Manual Handling Training. She's a super bubbly character & will ensure to make your training upbeat, interactive & fun.
Clare's an extremely experienced instructor having been a Training Manager within HM Prison Service for 18 years, training both staff & prisoners. Clare began her career as a Prison Officer for 5 years before completing a total of 23 years.
Clare worked in learning & development at various different prisons & prison service colleges delivering Mental Health Training as well as a variety of other courses.
Clare says, "I thrive from getting the best out of my students & love hearing feedback like, 'I was dreading doing this course but it's the best course I've ever done!!"
Hobbies Clare enjoys include gym sessions, running, country walks & spending quality time with her family.
We're all thrilled to have you on board Clare!
First for Safety Oxfordshire Ltd
13 Church Rise,
Finstock,
Chipping Norton,
OX7 3DH
Company number: 11988291
VAT registration number: 433116335