Ambulance Care Assistant and former Ibiza DJ lends support for charity

A Scottish Ambulance Service Ambulance Care Assistant who used to DJ in Ibiza is now plying his former trade to play music for a charity supporting people with additional needs.

Dean Burnett, who works out of Glasgow West Station and lives in Irvine, joined SAS in 2022, having previously worked at NHS Ayrshire and Arran in palliative care.

Before his time in the NHS, the 31-year-old was a resident DJ in Ibiza during two summers and has supported well-known DJs over the past 12 years such as Joel Corry, Ian Van Dhal and Judge Jules.

In his spare time, Dean now DJs at The Garage in Sauchiehall St, Glasgow for 'Include Me To Club', a not for profit organisation that hosts various events for kids and adults with disabilities and Additional Support Needs (ASN). He appears alongside DJs such as George Bowie, Garry Spence and Cassie from Clyde radio.

He said: “I absolutely loved it in Ibiza but I was getting too old for the long hours and constant late nights. I’ve always really wanted to give back to the community and when I saw an advert looking for a DJ for this fantastic organisation, I didn’t hesitate. I’ve been doing it for over four years now.

“The benefits for doing this for adults with disabilities means they can experience what a night out in a nightclub would be like but they can do so in a safe space, surrounded by their peers. They absolutely love it.”

Alongside DJing for the charity, Dean also performed a 24-hour DJ set for the nursing home he used to work in where he raised more than £1,000.

Dean said the support of his colleagues has been brilliant.

Speaking about his work with SAS, which involves transporting members of the public to and from hospital appointments, he said: “I love the fact I'm out on the road all day long and I get to see many new places in Scotland that I have never seen before and meet so many people.

“My shifts are always different and I'm always working with different characters. I’d love to move into an Accident & Emergency ambulance role as I continue my career within the Scottish Ambulance Service.”

Dean's next gig is on October 26 at Arthur Street Kitchen in Ayr