Children’s artwork unveiled on rapid response vehicles
Date: 4 September 2025The winners of a children’s artwork competition hosted by the region’s ambulance service have officially unveiled their designs.
Olivia Hart, aged 11, and Amelia Hutchings, aged 8, went to the East of England Ambulance Service NHS Trust’s (EEAST) Bury St Edmunds hub to see their artwork printed on the side of two rapid response vehicles (RRVs).
More than 30 entries were received from children across the east of England during the competition earlier this year. Children were invited to submit designs for the quarter-light windows on two brand-new Skoda Karoqs, which are currently used for training frontline ambulance workers to drive under blue-light conditions.
Olivia’s design, which won in the 10-16 year-old category, features different coloured hands joining together in a symbol of helpfulness. Her mother is a volunteer community first responder with EEAST.
She said: “It was exciting to see my design on the vehicle and my name next to it. I like drawing and I entered the competition as I know about the work of the ambulance service from my mum who is a Community First Responder.
“I hope it will cheer up patients when they see my design and give paramedics a helping hand.”
Amelia’s design, which won the under-10 years category, includes the NHS initials and the sign language for each letter, as she uses hearing aids herself. She said: "I worked my best on the drawing so it would win and get on the cars, and it did win! I included sign language because lots of people like me need to use hearing aids.”
Both girls live in Suffolk and met James Manship, driver trainer, at the Bury St Edmunds hub to see their designs on the RRVs.
