A West Midlands woman whose two decades of voluntary service have saved lives, built safer communities, and inspired generations has been shortlisted for the Outstanding Citizen Award by the West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner.
Sam Jackson, who has worked for British Airways for more than 31 years, has devoted much of her life outside of work to public service. From responding to 999 calls as a Community First Responder, to mentoring young people through Taekwondo, to inspiring the next generation in classrooms, her record of service spans across health, policing, education, and community safety.
“Sam Jackson embodies the very best of civic duty,” said West Midlands PCC Simon Foster. “Her selfless dedication over two decades has saved countless lives and made an enduring difference to her community. People like Sam are the backbone of our region, and this recognition is richly deserved.”
Sam’s voluntary journey began with fundraising efforts for Solihull Hospital and children’s charities, before serving ten years with the Territorial Army’s Intelligence Corps. In 2005, she joined the West Midlands Ambulance Service as a Community First Responder (CFR), becoming a founding member of the Solihull CFR Scheme – now the FastAid charity – where she later served as Vice Chair and Chair for nine years.
In 2018, she co-founded Central Fast Response, a charity that has since trained more than 7,000 local people in lifesaving skills. Now marking her 20th year as a CFR, Sam continues to respond to emergency calls in her spare time, while also delivering CPR and first aid training to schools, businesses, and community groups. Her service has earned her the Distinguished Service Award, Lifetime Achievement Award, and Queen’s Diamond and Platinum Jubilee Medals.
Alongside her ambulance work, Jackson has also volunteered as a Special Constable with Warwickshire Police, patrolling local communities, supporting neighbourhood teams, and promoting road safety through Community Speed Watch programmes.
Her commitment to young people is equally strong. As a voluntary Taekwondo instructor, she has taught hundreds of students discipline, respect, and confidence, with 13 achieving black belts under her guidance. More recently, as a British Airways Inspire Ambassador, she has been sparking ambition in schools and colleges by running STEM sessions and aviation career workshops.
Sam is shortlisted alongside Iftkhar Akhtar from Smethwick, who has been recognised for his tireless work tackling crime prevention among young people. Over the past seven years, Akhtar has run monthly workshops on knife crime, drugs, county lines, and other risks, inspiring countless young people to make positive choices and turn away from crime.
The winner of the Outstanding Citizen Award will be announced on Monday, October 6, at the Brasshouse Community Centre in Smethwick.
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