Rose Jackson-Nichols is the new Fundraising and Events Manager for Norfolk Accident Rescue Service. Here, Rose shares the story of the charity whose volunteer doctors, nurses, paramedics and first responders attend 999 calls across the county day and night
Who are you and what do you do?
Hey! I’m Rose, Fundraising and Events Manager and part of the leadership team here at NARS. I have the absolute pleasure of being part of this incredible charity and play a small role in the massive impact our work has here in Norfolk.
My background has been a mix of events and partnerships in the corporate sector. I began my career in recruitment, which, despite not being my long-term ambition, taught me so many skills that I still use today.
After spending a large part of my career in London, I have loved being back in the Norfolk community. Myself and my husband live in Norwich with our two very naughty greyhounds.
For those not in the know, what is NARS and what does it do? How long has it been going?
The Norfolk Accident Rescue Service (NARS) was founded in 1970 by a group of Doctors. Their mission is very simple: to provide lifesaving care outside of hospital.
Fast forward over 50 years and we are still doing just that. Our team of volunteer Doctors, Paramedics, Nurses and Emergency Responders work tirelessly to be there when every second counts.
How long have you been in your new role and what does it entail?
I joined NARS in September 2025 after a career working in corporate events and partnerships. My role consists primarily of being the face of the charity, such as looking after our events calendar, corporate partnerships, marketing and fundraising. We’re so lucky to have an amazing community of supporters, so ensuring each of these individuals feels appreciated for their efforts is very important to NARS.
I work alongside my brilliant colleagues here at our HQ in Dereham. Whilst it’s not the most beautiful of locations, it’s the perfect space for us to train our teams, store our lifesaving medical equipment and operate our fleet of five emergency vehicles.
How many volunteers are involved and how does the service work? How often are volunteers called upon?
Our team consists of 50 volunteer medics who respond for NARS outside of their full-time roles. We work alongside the ambulance trust and are dispatched to 999 calls throughout Norfolk.
NARS attends over 2000 callouts per year, which include emergencies such as cardiac arrests, road traffic collisions, heart attacks and severe traumas. At least one of our emergency vehicles is out on the road 24/7 and carries advanced equipment and medication to provide hospital-level care at the scene.
What sort of fundraising events can people get involved with?
Our work relies almost entirely on the support of generous donations from the public, so fundraising is an essential part of what we do. We host multiple events throughout the year and have a strong presence at big events such as the Norfolk Show, Cromer Carnival and Norwich Pride.
We are always keen for event support, especially those who can represent NARS at external events by delivering talks or running a stand. Alongside this, time and skills are always valued here at NARS, so if you’d like to get involved, please do reach out.
Any upcoming events you would like to mention?
We have a few events happening throughout 2026 which you can find on our website, however the greatest event by far in our calendar is the NARS Charity Ball. Last year we raised over £76,000, and this year we’re planning even bigger and better!
The ball will take place at Caistor Hall in Norwich on the 10th of October, more information and tickets can be found here.
Where can people find out more about NARS in general?
To find out more about NARS, you can visit our website at nars.org.uk or follow us on social media. To reach out to myself directly, please email rose@nars.org.uk.
The NARS Charity Ball takes place on October 10, 2026 at Caister Hall near Norwich. Visit nars.org.uk.
Featured image of Rose Jackson Nichols – supplied
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