REBECCA Weller has been committed to helping others since she was just seven years old.

Now 18, that desire to both challenge herself and be there in people’s hour of need burns brighter than ever.

Rebecca is vice-chairwoman and head controller of the Essex Voluntary Blood Service - a small organisation which ensures blood supplies are delivered when they are needed to hospitals across Essex and East London.

Made up of more than 50 volunteers, the dedicated team also carry emergency plasma, medication and medical samples to hospital departments and patients, in addition to neonatal breastmilk.

It is an incredible cause and Rebecca, who has effectively grown up with the organisation, is proud to be involved, supporting both her community and the NHS.

Her dedication is deep-rooted and it is a passion close to her family’s heart.

Mum Carol has run the organisation since 2010 and is also day controller and events manager. Dad Keith is a trustee and treasurer.

“I got involved because I’m autistic and wanted to challenge myself,” said the Colchester Institute student, who lives with her parents and sister in Wivenhoe.

“I wanted to help people in their hour of need and, after attending lots of meetings with mum, I made the decision to get involved myself.

“My first big responsibility came when I was 12, when I started being the nighttime duty controller, from 7pm until 9pm.

“I also used to do day control at weekends, from 7am until 9pm.

“I enjoy talking to hospital staff and mum’s team and my role within the group now is night controller, on Sunday and Monday nights.

Gazette: Rebecca Weller

“I’m also vice-chairperson and do day control some days when mum goes out.

“It’s something I really enjoy.

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“I love answering the phone and talking to the staff at hospitals.

“The team made me feel at home from the start and it makes me proud, doing something so important and essential to help the NHS.

“By giving our time for free, it means the money saved not having to use couriers can be invested elsewhere and put back into the care of patients.

“That’s why we do what we do.

“It’s our way of giving something back and that’s certainly the way I felt after my mum had a stroke, in 2014.

“Thankfully, she survived but it made me want to help those who helped keep her alive.

“Now I enjoy working with mum to make sure we’ve got everything covered.

“I attend events and am passionate about promoting our organisation, telling people what we do and making videos to put on our website and Facebook pages.”

Essex Voluntary Blood Service operates with volunteer riders and drivers, giving not only their time but also covering their own costs.

Most of the blood is collected from the blood bank at Basildon before being distributed to hospitals across Essex and East London, including Colchester.

For obvious reasons, the past year or so has been challenging and the service was expanded to operate 24/7.

The volunteer administration staff worked on a rota to make sure they could handle all the calls without delay, ensuring a prompt response.

The Essex Voluntary Blood Service has liveried motorcycles and cars which, when the need arises, can operate on a restricted blue light service.

“We’ve really grown since starting out,” said Rebecca, who won a Jack Petchey Achievement Award, recognising outstanding young people aged 11 to 25 across Essex and London, in June 2018.

“At the start we delivered to three hospitals, but now we run for all hospitals in Essex and East London, as well as the Essex and Herts Air Ambulance Trust.

“We also collect neonatal breast milk for the Hearts Milk Bank and the Rosie Birth Centre, which is part of Addenbrooke’s Hospital in Cambridgeshire.

Gazette: Rebecca Weller with mum Carol

“When Covid hit, mum decided to run 24/7.

“We needed to make sure everyone had what they needed and in addition to blood, this also included personal protective equipment, masks, medication and samples that need to be taken away for testing.

“There wasn’t anything we wouldn’t have helped with.

“In 2020, we completed a staggering 8,170 runs for the NHS and so far this year, we’ve completed 5,855.

“That’s amazing and something that makes me very proud.”

The Essex Voluntary Blood Service is on the lookout for more volunteers. To get involved, head to www.essexvoluntaryblood service.com/contact.