Callander paramedic recognised by Buckingham Palace for volunteer work

A Scottish Ambulance Service paramedic who provided aid during the pandemic and emergency accommodation for over 100 NHS staff has been recognised at Buckingham Palace.

Richard Francis, who is based at Callander Ambulance Station, attended His Majesty’s Garden Party on Tuesday.

Richard was invited to attend along with wife Marina MacKay where he was recognised for being the founder of the Leave A Light On (LALO) support group.

The group was founded on the March 23, 2020 to provide aid, virtual help and 24-hour support during the Covid pandemic.

Since then, it has grown and over the past few years has housed more than 100 NHS staff, key workers and those in emergency situations into free of charge accommodation.

The LALO project has provided emergency food hampers via referrals from the social services, child protection and domestic violence charities.

Richard, who used to be a chef by trade, said: “The group is very passionate about not only supporting and inspiring our next generation of volunteers but also feels it is equally important to celebrate the work of those going the extra mile in the community or family support within difficult times.”

It is not the only community work that Richard has been involved with.

During Storm Desmond, which devastated Cumbria and parts of Lancashire, Richard began the support group ‘The Big Cumbrian Christmas Day Get Together’ which was initially setup in the hope of providing venues for those that had lost their homes to have somewhere to spend Christmas Day.

LALO recently celebrated its four-year anniversary and has over 5,700 regular followers.

The group is now a regular source of help for social service teams, vulnerable adult and child protection teams, food banks throughout the county, discharge teams across the counties’ hospitals, wellbeing officers and key workers for those with specialist needs.