Freemasons continue generous support for Yorkshire Air Ambulance

The generosity of Freemasons across the country has provided a further £12,000 boost for Yorkshire Air Ambulance.

The rapid response emergency service received £8,000 from the Freemasons’ Grand Charity, now part of the Masonic Charitable Foundation. This represents £4,000 from the organisation’s two Yorkshire Provinces – West Riding and North and East Ridings.

In addition, the West Riding Province match-funded the national donation with a further £4,000 from the West Riding Masonic Charities.

Bob Smailes, Regional Fundraising Manager from Yorkshire Air Ambulance said: “We are extremely grateful to the Freemasons once again. We have received continuing support from them over many years with almost £300,000 donated locally and nationally.

“We are proud to have the Freemasons’ logo on both our current helicopters and thank them once more for their fantastic support.”

The Freemasons’ Grand Charity has been a regular supporter of Air Ambulance services across the country. Since 2007, nearly £2m has been donated to 22 rapid response emergency services.

Chief Executive Laura Chapman said: “I am very proud to say this is the ninth year the charity has donated thousands of pounds to Air Ambulances and similar services around the country.  Charitable giving is central to Freemasonry and we are delighted to show our support once again.”

Yorkshire Air Ambulance (YAA) is an independent charity providing a life-saving rapid response emergency service to 5 million people across the whole of Yorkshire seven days a week, 365 days a year.

The charity, which needs to raise £12,000 a day, has just ordered state-of-the-art replacements for its two ageing helicopters – G-SASH and G-CEMS – that will take to the skies over Yorkshire later this year and in Spring 2017.

The latest generation Airbus H145 aircraft will give paramedics a much more modern medical fit-out to treat and transport often critically injured patients.

Photo caption: Jack Pigott, (Province of Yorkshire, West Riding), Bob Smailes (YAA Regional Fundraising Manager), Nigel Weightman (Province of Yorkshire, North & East Ridings), Denis Kelly (Province of Yorkshire, North & East Ridings), Stuart Grantham (Province of Yorkshire, West Riding), David Pratt (Province of Yorkshire, West Riding).

Bag It Up Ltd (BIU), one of the UK’s leading clothing and textile recycling companies, is celebrating its latest milestone of £7million raised for its partner charities, thanks to donations from the great British public.

Residents, businesses and community groups across the UK have been recycling their unwanted clothing, shoes and household linens with BIU’s partner charities for over a decade.

BIU’s partners are UK-based, regional charities, including air ambulances, hospices and sporting associations. Each of these life-saving or life-changing charities rely on the support and generosity of the public, local businesses and community groups in their respective localities, to remain operational.

BIU designs and manufactures their own clothing recycling banks, at their in-house fabrication unit. After numerous tried and tested designs, they now own the UK patent for their no-key, anti-theft bank mechanism, which has ensured all donations are safe and secure, whilst awaiting collection.

Currently with a network of circa 1,400 clothing recycling banks around the UK, and eleven charity partnerships, BIU is extremely proud of what they have achieved to date, particularly with the current market conditions.

Exchange rates, political instability, garment quality and new imports from Asia, are just a few reasons as to why the used textile industry has seen a massive down-turn in the UK and overseas.

“The value of used textiles has dropped dramatically over the last few years”, Louise Knapton, a Director at BIU explains.

“When the market suffers, so do our charities. It’s a balancing act to cover the costs of our recycling operations whilst ensuring our charities receive maximum funding through the resale of their donated goods. Such a significant milestone shows our commitment to our Charity Partners does not waiver, despite more challenging conditions”

Wendy Yarney, Charity Partnerships Manager at BIU for the past eight years, says, “It’s an amazing achievement. I’m honoured to have worked alongside such vital and well-supported charities, and we must thank all donors for clearing out their clobber for their local, worthy causes.

Paul Gowland, Director of Fundraising, Yorkshire Air Ambulance Charity:

“This is a phenomenal figure for BIU to have raised for their charity partners and to have received £2.3million of that ourselves over the last 11 years is truly amazing.  We would like to say a huge thank you, not only to BIU, but to all our supporters who have donated their unwanted items to us and made such a massive difference.

Once again the generosity of Yorkshire families just takes our breath away. We have a brilliant relationship with BIU, our recycling partner, who gives us a percentage of all the recycled material we collect which adds up to around £250,000 a year!”

To find out where your nearest clothing recycling bank is, please visit http://biugroup.co.uk/banklocator/ or contact the Charity office on T: 01422 237900.

The Hoggarth family have more reason that most to be grateful to Yorkshire Air Ambulance.

In just over five years, four members from three generations of the family have been airlifted to hospital by the rapid response emergency charity following two separate incidents.

In late 2010, Adrian Hoggarth and his two young children were returning home to Hertfordshire after visiting relatives in Walkington, East Yorkshire, when they were involved in a road accident.

The family were trapped after their car ended up on its side in a ditch. Adrian suffered serious spinal injuries and a badly broken leg in the crash and the children were badly shaken.

Layla and Alex, just three and 18 months at the time, were released from their car seats and looked after by paramedics while fire and medical teams worked to free their Dad from the wreckage.

The family were flown to Hull Royal Infirmary in two Yorkshire Air Ambulances where the employment lawyer spent five weeks being treated for his injuries.

“I don’t know what we would have done without Yorkshire Air Ambulance and we are just so grateful,” said Adrian, 41.

“The paramedics were just brilliant. The children could not have been in better hands and they got me and them to hospital in minutes. It would have been a very long and difficult journey in a land ambulance.”

Earlier this year, Adrian again had reason to thank Yorkshire Air Ambulance after his father, Ken, suffered a heart attack at the wheel of his car.

The 74-year-old was driving near his Driffield home when he was forced to pull over. After emergency services arrived on scene it was clear he needed treatment as fast as possible and Ken was airlifted to Scarborough General Hospital.

Adrian added: “My Dad was driving home and began to feel increasingly unwell. He had suffered a heart attack and, as it’s a pretty long drive to hospital, Dad was just very fortunate that the air ambulance was available to get him to a specialist cardiac team so quickly.”

Ken spent a fortnight in Scarborough and then Castle Hill Hospital, Hull, before returning home where he is now recuperating.

Yorkshire Air Ambulance (YAA) is an independent charity providing a life-saving rapid response emergency service to 5 million people across the whole of Yorkshire seven days a week, 365 days a year.

YAA, which needs to raise £12,000 a day, has just ordered state-of-the-art replacements for its two ageing helicopters – G-SASH and G-CEMS – that will take to the skies over Yorkshire later this year and in Spring 2017.

The latest generation Airbus H145 aircraft will give paramedics a much more modern medical fit-out to treat and transport often critically injured patients.

Since his accident London-based Adrian has provided pro-bono employment legal advice to Yorkshire Air Ambulance – “I just wanted to give something back and this was my way of saying thank-you.”

Abby Barmby, YAA Communications & Marketing Manager said: “It’s not often we come across a situation where we have been able to help three generations of one family – in fact I think this is a first for us.

“However our Charity is there to provide a service to those in need and we are just glad to have been able to assist the Hoggarth family when they needed us the most.

“It’s great to see Adrian and the children doing so well now and we’re pleased that Ken is making a good recovery after his heart attack.  We’re also extremely grateful to Adrian for the legal help he has given.”

The Yorkshire Air Ambulance Chairman, Peter Sunderland DL, has been awarded an MBE by Her Majesty The Queen at a ceremony at Windsor Castle which took place yesterday (13th April 2016).  He was named in her New Year Honours list for ‘Voluntary service to the Yorkshire Air Ambulance and the community in West Yorkshire’

Mr Sunderland, 73, has been a Trustee of the life-saving Charity for over 12 years, with just over 9 of those as its Chairman, and has been responsible for some momentous changes at the YAA in recent years.

Mr Sunderland commented “It was a truly fantastic and overwhelming day at Windsor Castle.  Up until arriving, I had been given no clue as to who would be awarding my MBE, so to find out it was Her Majesty was just wonderful.

The ceremony itself was quite surreal but walking towards The Queen to collect my MBE will certainly go down as one of the most memorable and proudest moments of my life.”

Mr Sunderland joined the YAA after retiring from his role at the RMC Group PLC, where he worked for over 27 years as one of their UK Directors, bringing with him a wealth of experience in senior management, monitoring & delivering of business targets, workshops, strategic development, financial & budgetary control and project implementation.

After spending an initial 3 years as a Trustee for the YAA, he then became Chairman in November 2006, and continues to hold the position today, supported by his Vice-Chairman, Trustees and a strong senior management team.

Mr Sunderland continued “I have been part of the Yorkshire Air Ambulance for over 12 years now and have seen some huge changes to the Charity over those years.  We now own our two current helicopters, with two new brand new replacement state-of-the-art models on order, have two flagship air support units in the region, a fantastic head office facility as well as brilliant paramedics, Pilots and Doctors, Charity team and group of volunteers.  The YAA really is going from strength to strength however none of this would have been possible without the amazing support of the people of Yorkshire.  Something we will always be eternally grateful for.  It truly is an honour to be its Chairman”

As well as his work with the YAA, Mr Sunderland has also been a member of the Wakefield Cathedral Council, and is a past President and Subscribers Secretary of Huddersfield Choral Society.

In 2007 he was appointed a Deputy Lieutenant of West Yorkshire by the Lord-Lieutenant, Dr Ingrid Roscoe.

Mr Sunderland was joined at his investiture by his wife Margaret and his two eldest grandchildren Lillie and Jacob.

He is also supported by sons Richard, Matthew and Nicholas.

"I feel really thrilled to be involved with the Yorkshire Air Ambulance – a treasured charity saving lives everyday,” said Anita, who completed the design in three days using just a tiny scalpel, pencil and rubber.

"I love detail and telling a story and wanted to capture the grateful emotion we all feel when we see the Yorkshire Air Ambulance yellow helicopter.”

Anita’s stunning illustration has been reproduced on high quality notelets now on sale at just £5 for a pack of 10 cards and envelopes, with all proceeds going to the YAA. She added: “I hope people will buy them and help to save lives.”

Anita gained global recognition after creating a metre-high paper cut map showing the Yorkshire Stage One route of the 2014 Tour de France and she has since created three further stunningly intricate maps at her Dove Tree Art Studio in Harrogate.

She was chosen as the official artist of last year’s Tour de Yorkshire, is artist in residence at Hazelwood Castle and has exhibited all over the country.            

Yorkshire Air Ambulance (YAA) is an independent charity providing a life-saving rapid response emergency service to 5 million people across the whole of Yorkshire seven days a week, 365 days a year.

The charity, which currently flies around 1,000 missions a year, has just placed an order for two, state-of-the-art replacements for its current ageing aircraft – G-SASH and G-CEMS – that will take to the skies over Yorkshire later this year and in Spring 2017.

The latest generation Airbus H145 helicopters will give paramedics a much more modern medical fit-out to treat and transport often critically injured patients.

Helen Callear, YAA Regional Fundraising Manager, said: “We were absolutely thrilled to be approached by Anita with her stunning artwork and knew instantly that people would love the design. 

“It costs the charity £12,000 per day to keep our helicopters in the air and helping to save lives and the sale of the notecards will be a great help in helping us to raise these vital funds.

“We are also currently working on some other exciting projects with Anita, so watch this space for future announcements!”

If you would like to buy the notelets go to Yorkshire Air Ambulance’s website www.yaa.org.uk and visit their ‘shop’ section.  Alternatively they are available to buy from Anita’s studio and from YAA staff and volunteers across the region.

Anita works from her Dove Tree Art Studio and gallery is in situated in central Harrogate just near the Theatre on Back Granville Road. Here you can see her beautiful, intricate paper cuts and uplifting original paintings which she paints in water colour, acrylics and gouache. Limited Edition prints are also available, Pop in and see her at work or look online.ʉۻwww.anitabowerman.co.uk

As work to overhaul the market hall starts, Jean and her team have moved into a new larger area in the vaults of the historic building. 

“We’ve told all our existing customers but we want everyone to know that we have moved and to encourage people to come downstairs in the market and see us,” she said.

“It’s a big change and we are encouraging people to just come down the stairs to see us in our new home –  we have three units which have been combined into one large Yorkshire Air Ambulance area.

“Everything we sell is donated and we have such tremendous support in Scarborough from local people and visitors which we hope will continue.”

Scarborough Council and the University of Hull are partners in the transformation project, made possible thanks to a £2.7 million grant from the Coastal Communities Fund, administered by the Big Lottery Fund.

The historic market building is to get a complete makeover, during which a new mezzanine floor will be added, to create space for new shops, offices and a café.

The physical alterations will be joined by two online projects, designed to bring the market into the 21st Century.

Jean ran her own business at Scarborough Market for 40 years. But after only a few weeks of retirement in 2006, she took on an empty stall and started raising money for the charity she loves.

Over the years Jean has also attended hundreds of events, cheque presentations and talks helping to spread the word about the work of the Yorkshire Air Ambulance (YAA) in Scarborough and the surrounding area.

To honour her amazing contribution, Jean received a special award last year from Yorkshire Air Ambulance chairman Peter Sunderland who said: “Jean Dixon has definitely become part of the Yorkshire Air Ambulance family.

“She has given almost 15 years to the charity. Her standing in the local community is pivotal to success of the market and her warming smile and enthusiasm never tires.”

Yorkshire Air Ambulance is an independent charity providing a life-saving rapid response emergency service to 5 million people across Yorkshire seven days a week, 365 days a year.

The charity needs to raise £12,000 a day and has just placed an order for two, state-of-the-art replacements for its current ageing aircraft – G-SASH and G-CEMS – that will take to the skies over Yorkshire later this year and in Spring 2017.

The latest generation Airbus H145 helicopters will give paramedics a much more modern medical fit-out to treat and transport often critically injured patients.

Yorkshire Air Ambulance has been a registered charity with Giveacar since 2011, a not-for-profit social enterprise that raises money for charity by accepting donations of old cars which are then scrapped or auctioned.

So far, the rapid response emergency charity has received over £4,500 from the donation of 32 cars to Giveacar. In the last year alone, the scheme has generated more than £1,500.

Yorkshire Air Ambulance (YAA) Head of Fundraising Paul Gowland said: “This is a great idea allowing people who need to get rid of their old car to donate to their favourite charity without it costing them a penny.

“We are very grateful to those who have chosen to support us through Giveacar and hope the scheme continues to go from strength to strength.”

Giveacar has raised more than £2million for over 2,700 UK registered charities, through the donation of 20,000 cars since launching in 2010.

Patrick Church, Giveacar General Manager, said: “We are thrilled to be able to raise money for fantastic charities like Yorkshire Air Ambulance. Our aim is to help them tap into new resources, whilst also giving their supporters a new way to donate!’

Yorkshire Air Ambulance is an independent charity providing a life-saving rapid response emergency service to 5 million people across the whole of Yorkshire seven days a week, 365 days a year.

The charity, which currently flies around 1,000 missions a year, needs to raise £12,000 a day and has just placed an order for two, state-of-the-art replacements for its current ageing aircraft – G-SASH and G-CEMS – that will take to the skies over Yorkshire later this year and in Spring 2017.

The latest generation Airbus H145 helicopters will give paramedics a much more modern medical fit-out to treat and transport often critically injured patients.

Regional ŠKODA Retailer, D. M. Keith, has extended its support to the Yorkshire Air Ambulance for a ninth year by supplying two vehicles for the rapid response charity.

They have provided Kerry Garner, West & South Yorkshire regional fundraiser at the YAA with a new  ŠKODA Rapid.

D.M. Keith also provides an Award Winning ŠKODA Octavia Hatchback for Paul Gowland, Director of Fundraising at the YAA .

Both Paul and Kerry travels thousands of miles a year around the Yorkshire region working to raise the £12,000 a day the rapid response charity needs to keep its two helicopters flying “We cannot thank D. M. Keith enough for their continued support,” said Kerry. “Their generosity is a great help in helping us to achieve our income targets so the charity can continue saving lives across Yorkshire.”

D. M. Keith are the largest ŠKODA Retailer Group in the UK, with branches in Leeds, Bradford, Wakefield, Huddersfield, York and Hull.

Director Angus Keith said: “D. M. Keith are proud to be associated with such a worthwhile charity and we wanted to continue our strong partnership with the Yorkshire Air Ambulance by providing them with the much needed ŠKODA vehicles for another year.  

“Family is at the heart of our business, and the Yorkshire Air Ambulance literally saves the lives of many individuals and families on a daily basis.”

Yorkshire Air Ambulance (YAA) is an independent rapid response charity, which has carried more than 6,500 people in its 15 -year history. It needs to raise £12,000 each day to keep its two helicopters in the air and maintained – equivalent to £4.4 million each year.

Without any direct government funding, the only help the charity receives is through the secondment of its paramedics from the Yorkshire Ambulance Service NHS Trust.

Staff at the Skipton Foodhall have supported the Yorkshire Air Ambulance (YAA) since 2011, when it was first chosen as the store’s Charity of the Year, as part of its Plan A commitments, M&S’ pledge to become the world’s most sustainable major retailer.

Since then, volunteers from the YAA have worked with the store regularly to promote the charity and to organise regular bag packs. M&S Skipton Foodhall staff also have organised bake sales and showed their support by wearing bright yellow for the Yorkshire Air Ambulance’s ‘Yellow Yorkshire’ campaign.

In a bid to boost the fundraising total even further, shoppers are being encouraged to come along to support staff and volunteers from the Yorkshire Air Ambulance at a bag pack in the Skipton store between 10am and 2pm on the 25th March.

Helen Gowans, Yorkshire Air Ambulance North Yorkshire Fundraising Manager, said: “We have been truly amazed by the amount of support we have received from staff and customers alike at M&S Simply Food in Skipton. To keep both of Yorkshire’s Air Ambulances maintained and in the air it costs the Charity £12,000 every single day. As an independent Charity we rely solely on the generosity of organisations and individuals such as M&S and their customers to enable us to keep saving lives across the region.

Alex Nicholson, M&S Skipton Store Manager, said: “The Yorkshire Air Ambulance provides an invaluable service for the local community and relies heavily on donations and support, which is why we were so keen to support the cause. That’s why we have voted to keep the Yorkshire Air Ambulance our Charity of the Year since 2011 and we hope to continue to support them for many more years to come.” 

The leading concrete and natural stone manufacturer and building materials supplier is providing storage and logistical support as well as raising vital funds for the rapid response emergency service.

Myers vehicles will be branded with the Yorkshire Air Ambulance logo and employees will proudly wear the charity’s logo on their hi-vis safety clothing.

The company, which has 14 branches throughout the region, employs around 350 people and Managing Director James Berry said: “As a Yorkshire-based business employing local people, we are delighted to be able to help such a vital service as Yorkshire Air Ambulance, which is close to the hearts of many of our team members. 

“Myers Group is committed to delivering a positive impact to the communities in which we operate and we are honoured to be partnering with such a remarkable charity and look forward to developing our relationship. 

“Our teams throughout the Yorkshire region will be undertaking a range of fundraising activities throughout the year as well as promoting awareness of the charity and we will be encouraging our customers to get involved with fundraising activities at their local branch.

“The charity relies on donations and we’re sure that our customers will want to join with us in supporting and raising vital funds for this very worthwhile cause in Yorkshire” 

Yorkshire Air Ambulance is an independent charity providing a life-saving rapid response emergency service to 5 million people across the whole of Yorkshire seven days a week, 365 days a year.

The charity, which currently flies around 1,000 missions a year, needs to raise £12,000 a day and has just placed an order for two, state-of-the-art replacements for its current ageing aircraft – G-SASH and G-CEMS – that will take to the skies over Yorkshire later this year and in Spring 2017.

The latest generation Airbus H145 helicopters will give paramedics a much more modern medical fit-out to treat and transport often critically injured patients.

Paul Gowland, fundraising manager for Yorkshire Air Ambulance said: “We’re absolutely delighted to have the support of a family-run business in the heart of our community whose company values match those of the Yorkshire Air Ambulance.

“We look forward to working with the teams across the region to raise the vital funds needed to enable the continuation of this life-saving service.”

Caption: Yorkshire Air Ambulance Fundraising Director Paul Gowland with Myers Group Directors Katie Berry and James Berry.

To celebrate this donation, four Society colleagues visited the charity’s airbase on the Nostell Priory Estate, near Wakefield to get an insight into the work undertaken by the team.

Kevin Mowles, Head of Business Support at Leeds Building Society, said: “The visit to the Yorkshire Air Ambulance was inspiring. It is incredible to get an insight into the critical work undertaken by such a wonderful team of dedicated professionals. The scale of their responsibilities is eye watering and so heavily dependent upon charitable donations.

“The presence of this service makes such a difference to life threatening trauma care. It’s a day that will stay with me forever. I cannot commend this service and these people enough.”

Kerry Garner, Regional Fundraising Manager at Yorkshire Air Ambulance, said: “We would like to sincerely thank Leeds Building Society’s Colleague Charity Group* for choosing to support us and raising such a fantastic amount of money.

“They seem to be only too aware of the very real necessity of our service and we are grateful for their support. It costs £12,000 per day to keep both of our helicopters in the air and helping to save lives. There is no doubt that Leeds Building Society’s generous support will help us to save lives and guarantee the service into the future.”