Supporting Lincolnshire Community Assistance Team

Since Lincolnshire Community Assistance Team’s inception in 2012, the emergency responder group has evolved and branched out, providing a multitude of support services to the local area. L-CAT is one of Lincolnshire Co-op’s current Community Champions and shoppers, members, and colleagues are raising funds to support this vital cause.

The charity started with a small group of individuals who wished to do more in the community. It wasn’t long until the volunteers joined forces with East Midlands Ambulance Service and started assisting in the recovery of emergency vehicles from the snow. The demand quickly grew for the service to include the police and soon after, search and rescue.

Over time, L-CAT has developed into a highly skilled team who are not only ready to be deployed at a moment's notice from the emergency services but also complete day-to-day checks on vulnerable people across Lincolnshire.

There is no such thing as an average day at this charity, it changes on a regular basis and volunteers never know what kind of emergencies may come in – medical, flood protection, or snowstorms! But there are such tasks as welfare checks that the team assist with to support the community daily.

According to Responder Aaron Goss, L-CAT member enquiries are always welcome. He said: “Regardless of your background or experience, we always have a place available on our team for anyone wishing to develop their skills.

“Once you’ve completed the paperwork, you can start to develop training skills from off-road driving to search and rescue and community first responders.”

Running a charity that covers the entirety of Lincolnshire naturally comes with significant expenses. From the little details such as uniform and IDs to radio systems, call out texts, training grounds and even liability insurance - it all adds up very quickly and it wouldn't be possible without the support of donations and the charity’s dedicated volunteers.

Unfortunately, due to the pandemic, opportunities for fundraising have diminished rapidly, yet L-CAT is busier on the ground than ever before! So, support from the Community Champions scheme couldn’t have come at a better time.

L-CAT hopes to use the funds to buy equipment to develop a second incident response trailer in the south of Lincolnshire, pay for ongoing member training, as well as licence payments for the team’s secure radio systems which are critical pieces of kit.

Aaron said: “The opportunity to be a Lincolnshire Co-op Community Champion allows us to show the community that we are here for them, that we will continue to show our support in any way that is needed.

“To all the colleagues, members, and shoppers of Lincolnshire Co-op who are raising funds for L-CAT, thank you! Your support allows us to continue serving the community before, during and after its toughest times! It wouldn't be possible without you.”