General

Yorkshire Ambulance Service NHS Trust (YAS) has worked with the Yorkshire Air Ambulance (YAA) and commissioners to launch a new Yorkshire Critical Care Team which will see 11 consultants in emergency medicine and anaesthesia working on the life-saving helicopter 12 hours a day, every day of the year.

The team will carry additional drugs as well as being able to perform emergency anaesthesia and life-saving surgical procedures at the scene of an incident.

Dr Andrew Pountney, Emergency Medicine Consultant at Pinderfields Hospital, Wakefield, is clinical lead for the Yorkshire Critical Care Team.

He said: “We have had doctors flying with Yorkshire Air Ambulance on an ad hoc basis for over 10 years now.

“But thanks to this initiative we now have a dedicated and funded system to ensure that a consultant with appropriate training and experience in pre-hospital emergency medicine can respond every day of the year.”

The doctors, who have been seconded to Yorkshire Ambulance Service by their host trusts, will support the work of the YAA paramedics who have extended critical care skills, as well the physicians with the West Yorkshire Medic Response Team and British Association for Immediate Care (BASICS) who are tasked to respond by road to serious incidents.

Dr Pountney added: “This is about complementing the excellent service already provided by Yorkshire Air Ambulance paramedics and other frontline response teams.

“For the vast majority of the time the doctors will have a vital role providing support for the paramedics when they are using their extended skills.

“The doctors will also be able to make advanced clinical decisions and deliver critical care interventions very quickly, including pre-hospital emergency anaesthesia. There will be occasions when having an experienced doctor on board will mean that certain life-saving procedures can be done on scene.”

Yorkshire Air Ambulance serves 5 million people across Yorkshire and has carried more than 6,600 people in its 15-year history.

The charity has just placed an order for two, brand new 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.

A Driffield pensioner who makes and sells thousands of jars of jam and chutney for Yorkshire Air Ambulance is flying high after joining The Queen’s official 90th birthday celebrations.

Ann Kent has raised more than £41,000 for the rapid response emergency charity over the last eight years, selling her delicious homemade jams and chutneys at events across East Yorkshire.

Her sister Edna Turner from Nafferton and friends Alan and Gail Amess from Dunswell are keen helpers and joined Ann for the spectacular night of musical and military displays at Windsor Castle.

A host of stars including Dame Helen Mirren, Kylie Minogue, Katherine Jenkins and Gary Barlow took part in the event which also featured 900 horses and 100 military and Commonwealth pipers.

“It was a real once in a lifetime experience and we thoroughly enjoyed ourselves,” said Ann. “It was such a privilege to be there and we were very well looked after.”

Waitrose, an Official Partner of The Queen’s 90th Birthday Celebration, asked all their stores to nominate charities to receive tickets for the spectacular Windsor Castle show.

The Willerby store chose Yorkshire Air Ambulance (YAA) and successfully secured four tickets in the nationwide ballot.

YAA Area Fundraising Manager Bob Smailes said: “Waitrose wanted the tickets to be used to recognize supporters of charities and we were delighted to be able to give them to Ann and her team.

“We have a lot of fantastic volunteers who do brilliant work for us, attending events, cheque presentations and talks on our behalf.

“Ann and her sister make all the jams, chutneys and cakes from scratch and sell them at events completely on their own. It’s a remarkable achievement and we could not have been more happy to recognize their efforts in this very special way.”

Ann sources all the fruit and vegetables for her jams and chutneys locally, with most of it donated free of charge. She makes between 2,500 and 3,000 jars a year, as well as cakes, with her sister Edna producing about 500 fruit loaves.

These are sold for the YAA, with the help of Alan and Gail, at a wide range of events including the annual Driffield Steam Rally and Newby Hall Tractor Rally.

Yorkshire Air Ambulance serves 5million people across Yorkshire and has carried more than 6,600 people in its 15-year history.

The charity has just placed an order for two, brand new 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.

A man who broke his back falling from a tree has made a bird table from its branches to thank Yorkshire Air Ambulance.

Farmworker Jud Bruce was pruning the silver birch in his Mirfield garden on Mother’s Day when he stood on a dead branch and plummeted nearly 20 foot, landing on his back on a concrete wall.

Jud was flown in minutes by Yorkshire Air Ambulance to Leeds General Infirmary where scans revealed he’d luckily only broken a single vertebra in his spine.

However, facing up to three months off work, Jud used two birch tree branches he had to make a bird table which has now been auctioned, raising £75 for the rapid response emergency charity.

Further funds have also been raised by villagers donating in collections tins at his nephew’s newsagents shop in Lower Hopton.

The 47-year-old, who has always crafted things out of wood, said: “The air ambulance was just fantastic and this is a way to give a little bit back to them. It just felt like the completion of a circle.

“It was sold in a silent auction at my nephew’s shop and I know that people have also made donations to support the charity which is just great.

“I’m fortunate as there is a field right next to my house so the helicopter could land and the paramedics were great. I was really panicking that I was going to be paralysed.

“The flight was so quick and I know it would have been much less comfortable and much longer if I had had to go by road ambulance.”

Yorkshire Air Ambulance serves 5million people across Yorkshire and has carried more than 6,600 people in its 15-year history.

The charity has just placed an order for two, brand new 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 based tailoring specialist, Skopes, has become the latest company to pledge its support to the Yorkshire Air Ambulance by making a sizeable donation and supplying three years’ worth of uniforms for their fundraising staff.

Established over 60 years ago in the heart of the textile industry, Skopes enjoys a rich history and heritage filled with the highest levels of innovation and service which is available through Skopes retail shops and within House of Fraser stores throughout the UK.

The Yorkshire Air Ambulance approached Skopes about purchasing their staff uniforms, however, after an initial meeting Skopes wanted to support the charity and a three year sponsorship deal was agreed.

The Skopes logo has been applied to both Yorkshire Air Ambulance helicopters and the staff will be kitted out in Skopes tailored clothing for the next three years. The Yorkshire Air Ambulance team opted for the 247 Corporatewear collection in black which oozes premium quality and is perfect office wear.

Paul Gowland, Director of Fundraising at the Yorkshire Air Ambulance, said: “The Yorkshire Air Ambulance is proud of its strong partnerships within the local business community, and we very much value the support given to the Charity. We’d like to take this opportunity to thanks Skopes for their generous donation of not only ongoing financial support, but our staff uniforms which look great!”

Simon Cope, Managing Director of Skopes, commented on the partnership; “Our initial meeting with the Yorkshire Air Ambulance was about supplying uniforms to their fundraising staff, however after meeting the charity we recognised what great work they do and wanted to support them on an ongoing basis. The Yorkshire Air Ambulance saves the lives of many individuals and families every day, to keep both Air Ambulances in the air the charity needs to raise £12,000 per day, we wanted to contribute towards this.”

The partnership has been agreed for three years however Skopes look to support the charity on an ongoing basis. The Yorkshire Air Ambulance is looking to engage with brands and companies in the region so if you could support the charity get in touch with them directly.

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.