Introduction from our CEO

I am so very proud and privileged to have led our incredible charity through a year which has presented challenges on an unprecedented level, but has also been a year filled with collaboration, tenacity and hope. In March 2020, COVID-19 significantly impacted the world we operate in. Team KSS have faced, and continue to face, the multiple obstacles presented by COVID-19 with determination, courage and a resilience to ensure we continue to serve the communities of Kent, Surrey and Sussex. My heartfelt thanks and appreciation to everyone who has worked so tirelessly to enable our 24/7 service to operate without interruption throughout.

None of this would be possible without the amazing contribution of all of our staff, the generosity of our supporters and the commitment of our Trustees and volunteers, all of whom are such an integral, valued part of Team KSS. The phenomenal response we received to our Coronavirus Emergency Appeal is reflective of the innate desire among our communities to support each other and we remain forever grateful to our generous supporters for doing so.

My sincere thanks and appreciation go to our outgoing Chair, Dr Helen Bowcock, whose inspirational leadership as Chair has enabled KSS to succeed and thrive. It is testament to Helen’s passion, commitment and guidance that KSS continues to grow, develop and continuously improve on our service and the impact we make. Helen will be missed incredibly but leaves KSS in a strong and resilient position on which to build for the future and deliver a strategy that will enable us to ensure the best possible outcomes for our patients across the communities we serve. I very much look forward to working closely with our new Chair and former patient Barney Burgess and continuing to work with our inspirational Board of Trustees to deliver on our purpose and further develop our strategic direction. Having been driven by our purpose and staying true to our values throughout 2020-2021, we are more committed than ever to meet the challenges that 20212022 will bring. As well as ensuring our service continuity, we will continue to look to our culture and strategy - The KSS Way - to take bold collaborative action to continuously innovate to improve our service and strive towards our vision of an end to preventable loss of life from medical emergency.

I am continually inspired by the commitment and resilience of Team KSS, and I look forward to all we can achieve together in the coming year to reach more patients and ensure they achieve the best possible outcome. I am utterly committed to ensuring we continue to put people at the heart of all we do; to be a truly purpose driven and values led organisation that delivers maximum benefit for our patients. I thank each and every individual who aids us on our journey and enables us to provide our world-leading pre-hospital emergency service.

Your support is as critical as our care.

#CaringTheKSSWay

David Welch, CEO