Community stories

There’s no finer moment on the Angels annual calendar than when past winners of the Spirit of Excellence Award rise to their feet to recognize a new class of winners and nominees for one of stroke’s most prestigious awards.

Many people think that it’s big events that change the world. Chaos theory says no. The idea that small changes can trigger vast outcomes is known as the butterfly effect. We are asked to imagine a butterfly’s wing flap causing a typhoon . .

FAST Heroes volunteering in South America shows that volunteering is not just an act of goodwill—it is a strategic driver of sustainable community health impact, supported by the clinical and educational expertise of Angels.

All roads led to Maastricht where the 12th European Stroke Organisation Conference (ESOC) was simultaneously a celebration of 10 years of Angels. Our favourite 20 pictures of the event include highlights from the Spirit of Excellence Awards, high spirits on the Angels booth, and the unveiling of the new Angels Regions target.

Timing is everything. A training webinar timed to coincide with a shift change meant both night-shift and incoming EMS teams could join an interactive masterclass in Ukraine's Cherkasy region.

This year's winners of the Spirit of Excellence Award 2026 were announced in Maastricht on Wednesday evening.