A mother’s decision to say thank you has grown into a charity that is making a lifesaving difference across the Midlands.
Arrive Alive, the UK’s only registered charity dedicated solely to funding voluntary-operated 999 response vehicles for Community First Responders, has reached a remarkable milestone, with its fleet responding to more than 8,000 life-threatening 999 emergencies between June 2024 and June 2026.
The charity was founded by Debbie Roscoe, who wanted to give something back as a thank you for the exceptional care her youngest daughter, Ellie, had received. Her original aim was to fund just one Community First Responder vehicle, but it soon became clear there was a much greater need. What started as one vehicle has grown into a fleet of 18 fully equipped voluntary-operated 999 response vehicles, supporting communities across Birmingham, Solihull, Coventry, Warwickshire, North Warwickshire, Staffordshire, Herefordshire, Worcestershire and the Black Country.
Throughout the charity’s growth, Debbie has continued to support Ellie through her ongoing health conditions and hospital admissions while remaining committed to expanding Arrive Alive’s lifesaving work. Her determination has helped provide more communities with access to rapid emergency care when it is needed most.
The vehicles are operated by medically trained Community First Responders, who are dispatched by West Midlands Ambulance Service to life-threatening 999 emergencies. Responders provide vital emergency treatment in the critical minutes following a 999 call, helping patients suffering from cardiac arrests, strokes, severe allergic reactions, diabetic emergencies, epileptic seizures, sepsis, major trauma and paediatric emergencies.
With demand continuing to increase, Arrive Alive is appealing for support to fund additional voluntary-operated response vehicles in more communities. Each fully equipped response vehicle costs approximately £25,000, and every additional vehicle helps bring lifesaving emergency care closer to local communities.
Arrive Alive is funded entirely through the generosity of donations, fundraising and corporate support, with every pound raised helping to fund response vehicles and essential lifesaving equipment.
Debbie Roscoe, Founder of Arrive Alive, said:
“When Arrive Alive began, it was simply my way of saying thank you. I never imagined it would grow from funding one vehicle to eighteen, or that those vehicles would go on to respond to more than 8,000 life-threatening emergencies. Every achievement has only been possible because of the incredible support we’ve received. There is still a real need for more response vehicles, and together we can continue to expand into more communities and help save even more lives.”
“When Arrive Alive began, it was simply my way of saying thank you. I never imagined it would grow from funding one vehicle to eighteen, or that those vehicles would go on to respond to more than 8,000 life-threatening emergencies. Every achievement has only been possible because of the incredible support we’ve received. There is still a real need for more response vehicles, and together we can continue to expand into more communities and help save even more lives.”
To help fund the next generation of response vehicles, Arrive Alive will host its Annual Gala Dinner on Friday 25 September 2026 at Birmingham City Football Club. The evening will bring together businesses, supporters and community leaders to raise vital funds to help provide additional voluntary-operated 999 response vehicles and lifesaving equipment for communities across the region.