Martin Stevenson

Freemason groups’ generous £98,000 donation supports Yorkshire Air Ambulance with lifesaving equipment.

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Freemasons with helicopter crew

Yorkshire Air Ambulance (YAA) has been generously supported by a significant donation of £98,000 from two esteemed Freemason groups: Thornborough Lodge Freemasons and Hebden Bridge Freemasons from The Lodge of Prince Frederick.

This substantial contribution underpins the Freemasons’ unwavering long-term commitment to supporting essential emergency services across Yorkshire and will significantly enhance YAA’s critical operations.

Led by Mike Ramsay, Master of Thornborough Lodge and John Dinsdale, contributed £50,000 towards the cause, while the Hebden Bridge, Lodge of Prince Frederick, represented by Robert Walker, Arthur Chapman and Basil Greaves, donated £48,000.

The funds will be utilised to procure essential equipment, including state-of-the-art handheld ultrasound devices for each YAA helicopter and Rapid Response Vehicles (RRVs), specialist helmets for the medical crew, and the implementation and six-year subscription of PHEMnet, a cutting-edge clinical and patient database system.

The implementation of PHEMnet enables seamless integration between YAA and key clinical databases, facilitating comprehensive analysis of patient journeys and interventions. This integration offers valuable insights and key learnings for YAA’s critical care team, further enhancing the quality of their life-saving services.

Furthermore, introducing the Butterfly iQTM handheld ultrasound device will revolutionise pre-hospital care by enabling mid-air scans and rapid transmission of critical information to emergency teams, expediting treatments, and improving patient outcomes.

A group of people stood in front of a yellow helicopter holding a large cheque

Dr Stuart Reid, Medical Director at Yorkshire Air Ambulance, emphasised the positive impact of the ultrasound machines, stating, “The introduction of handheld ultrasound devices will significantly enhance our diagnostic capabilities, particularly in cases of cardiac arrests. This advanced technology will empower our medical teams to make critical decisions swiftly, ultimately improving patient outcomes and aiding us to save more lives.”

Expressing gratitude for the Freemason groups’ invaluable support, Mike Harrop, Chairman of Yorkshire Air Ambulance, remarked, “We are deeply grateful for the generosity shown by Thornborough Lodge Freemasons and the Hebden Bridge, Lodge of Prince Frederick Freemasons. Their donations not only provides vital equipment but also serves as a testament to the community spirit that fuels Yorkshire Air Ambulance. With their support, we are empowered to continue our lifesaving mission, ensuring that every person in need receives the highest standard of care, no matter where they are in Yorkshire.“

Earlier this year, the Freemason groups were warmly welcomed to YAA’s Nostell Air Support Unit in Wakefield, where they had the opportunity to see one of the YAA’s operational H145 D3 helicopters up close, and meet the dedicated team of Pilots, Paramedics, Doctors and other key members of the charity’s staff, further strengthening the bond between the organisations.

Robert C Walker, a member of both Thornborough Lodge No 6434 in Leyburn and a previous member of the Hebden Bridge, Lodge of Prince Frederick Freemasons, played a pivotal role in facilitating the donation process. Mr. Walker expressed, “It is an honour to facilitate this meaningful contribution on behalf of both Thornborough Lodge and the Lodge of Prince Frederick. The Freemason ethos of charity and community support resonates deeply with the mission of Yorkshire Air Ambulance, and we are proud to play a part in advancing their life-saving work.”

Yorkshire Air Ambulance Enhances Community Safety with New Public Defibrillator in Elland

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Neil Davidson and Louise Shorrock

Yorkshire Air Ambulance (YAA) is proud to announce the installation of a new public defibrillator outside its Cayley House head office, on South Lane, in Elland. This initiative, supported by Neil Davidson and his Community CPR Fund, aims to enhance the safety and well-being of the local community by providing immediate access to lifesaving equipment.

Neil, who is a cardiac arrest survivor himself and local advocate for CPR training, kindly supported the funding of the weatherproof external defibrillator cabinet to house the device.

After experiencing a cardiac arrest in 2017, during which his then 25-year-old son performed lifesaving CPR, Neil has been passionately committed to increasing public access to CPR training and defibrillators throughout Calderdale.

Neil stated, “My Community CPR Fund is dedicated to providing essential resources like External Defib cabinets to organisations such as Yorkshire Air Ambulance. Making this defibrillator available 24/7 to the Elland community is a crucial step in saving lives.”

The defibrillator, supplied by YAA, is fully automated and equipped with simple voice prompts, ensuring that even untrained individuals can confidently use them during a cardiac emergency.

The new defibrillator is now one of nine public defibrillators in Elland, located at strategic points including: Elland Working Men’s Club, Elland Fire Station, W J Roadmarkings Ltd, J C Health & Fitness Ltd, 102 Southgate, a post box 30 meters from Ainley Mount on Huddersfield Road, Screwfix Elland, THS Industrial Tiles, and Cross Lane Primary School.

Louise Shorrock, Office Manager at Yorkshire Air Ambulance’s Cayley House, added, “These defibrillators are designed to be user-friendly, with no formal training needed, which helps instil confidence in those who might need to use them. As a community-focused, patient centric, organisation, we’re committed to exploring all possible ways to support people in need as much as possible. Being based on a busy road, surrounded by local businesses and opposite an Aldi supermarket means it is always busy in the local vicinity.  We hope it will give the local Elland community piece of mind that there is a publicly accessible defibrillator in the proximity.”

 Yorkshire Air Ambulance continues to support community health initiatives, reaffirming its commitment to saving lives and improving emergency response capabilities across the region.

Yorkshire Air Ambulance ‘Reflection and Remembrance Garden’ wins ‘Best in Show’ at Harrogate Flower Show

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Reflection and Remembrance Garden

Yorkshire Air Ambulance’s garden has been announced as the ‘Best in Show’ at this year’s Harrogate Flower Show.

Designed by York based Kate Smithson, the ‘Reflection and Remembrance Garden’ encompasses place of remembrance and tranquillity where those who have been affected by the work of YAA can go to remember and reflect on their experiences, or in memory of loved ones.  A lasting memorial, the garden will become a legacy for the community and beyond for years to come through lasting dedications to those we love, when it relocates to its permanent home in Roundhay Park later this year.

The garden was only made possible through generous sponsorship and funding from organisations including Redmayne Bentley, The North of England Horticultural Society, Woods of Harrogate, The Arnold Burton Charitable Trust, RB Gray Charitable Trust, Ilkley Charitable Trust, and The Peacock (Leeds) Trust.

Judges comments included “well done… an excellent garden that followed the brief closely. Well scaled and in proportion.”

Reflection and Remembrance Garden

Taking centre stage in the garden is a metal, yellow pergola which reflects the blades and colour of the YAA helicopters.  Soft, billowing planting and a central reflective pool celebrate the varied landscapes of Yorkshire that the helicopters fly over on a daily basis.  The space aims to exude calmness and tranquillity, contrasting the major trauma YAA deals with every day.

Designer Kate Smithson added: “I am absolutely thrilled to have not only been awarded a Premier Gold Award, but also to be given the accolade of ‘Best in Show’.  It has been a real honour and privilege to have designed this garden for YAA and to work with such a talented landscaper in Nick Fryer and his team.  I hope the visitors to the show over the next few days will love the garden as much as I have loved designing it, and I look forward to developing it further for the public when it relocates to Roundhay Park permanently after the show.”

Once in its new home at Roundhay Park, YAA plans to utilise the garden for future fundraising and awareness too, allowing the public to leave lasting dedications to loved ones, or as a patient who has used their service.

Yorkshire Air Ambulance Announces New Memorial Garden

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Public memorial garden illustration

Yorkshire Air Ambulance have announced plans for a new, public memorial garden.  To be launched at this year’s Harrogate Flower Show, the garden will eventually take up its permanent home in Roundhay Park, Leeds, where it will be on display and easily accessible for everyone.

Designed by York based Kate Smithson, a graduate of the Yorkshire School of Garden Design, the ‘Reflection and Remembrance Garden’ will be a place of remembrance and tranquillity where those who have been affected by the work of YAA can come to remember and reflect on their experiences, or in memory of loved ones.  A lasting memorial, the garden will become a legacy for the community and beyond for years to come through lasting dedications to those we love, when it relocates to its permanent home in Roundhay Park later this spring.

Tessa Klemz, Regional Fundraising Manager for YAA explains: “YAA have long been considering some type of long-lasting memorial area for our supporters to appreciate and utilise.  When the opportunity from the Harrogate Flower Show came along for us to have a garden at this year’s show, we knew it would be the ideal opportunity.  Kate’s proposed design captivated us from the outset.  She has captured exactly what we were looking for – to create a place of memories, tranquillity and peacefulness.  We are also absolutely delighted that Leeds City Council are able to give the garden a permanent home at Roundhay Park, where members of the public can access the garden on a daily basis – as well as the garden being able to grow and mature over the years to come.  The garden will also accommodate lasting dedications for families of loved ones and support the life-saving work of YAA.”

Taking centre stage in the garden is a metal, yellow pergola which reflects the blades and colour of the YAA helicopters.  Soft, billowing planting and a central reflective pool will celebrate the varied landscapes of Yorkshire that the helicopters fly over on a daily basis.  The space aims to exude calmness and tranquillity, contrasting the major trauma YAA deals with every day.

Tessa also added: “The build and installation of the garden at the show would not have been possible without the generosity of some wonderful sponsors who have kindly provided support to cover any costs involved with this project.  Our sincere thanks go to organisations including Redmayne Bentley, The North of England Horticultural Society, Woods of Harrogate, The Arnold Burton Charitable Trust, RB Gray Charitable Trust, Ilkley Charitable Trust, and The Peacock (Leeds) Trust for supporting this fantastic garden.”

Kate Smithson who designed the garden added: “It has been a real joy to think about creating a garden that celebrates the vital work that the YAA do across the Yorkshire region.  It was important for us to create an uplifting space, full of positivity and yet also give space for reflection and contemplation.  I wanted to incorporate the bold yellow YAA colour and bring people closer to the joys that can be found in nature, using fresh and lush greens in a celebration of Spring. 

 We then look forward to developing this further for the permanent legacy garden to create a space that will be beautiful year-round and become a place for people to come and reflect on the lifesaving work the YAA do.  I’d also like to pass my sincere thanks to several local businesses who supported my design and vision to bring the garden to fruition – these include Tong Garden Centre, Kendrew Architectural Metalwork, Traditional Stone, Urbis Design, D-Tail Plants, Wykeham Mature Plants, and the Yorkshire School of Garden Design.”

YAA’s garden will be on display at Harrogate Flower Show, which takes place at the Great Yorkshire Showground from Thursday 25th to Sunday 28th April, before being moved to its permanent home in Roundhay Park.  Further details on when the garden will be open to the public at Roundhay Park will be announced by YAA in due course.

Yorkshire Air Ambulance is proud to announce its upcoming Yellow Yorkshire race night at the legendary Doncaster Racecourse on April 27th, 2024.

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Yorkshire Air Ambulance is proud to announce its upcoming Yellow Yorkshire race night at the legendary Doncaster Racecourse on April 27th, 2024.

This exciting event is the highlight in the charity’s month-long ‘Yellow Yorkshire’ awareness campaign, which is in its tenth year, aiming to raise crucial funds for the life-saving services it provides.

The Yellow Yorkshire Race Festival promises a day of exhilarating horse racing, delicious food and drink, and entertainment. With only 500 tickets available, through the charity’s website, racegoers can secure their spot on the night with as little as £10 donation, offering a savings of over 50% on the gate admission.

On the day, the racecourse will be enhanced with vibrant yellow décor, including a customised, one of a kind, YAA themed horse rug which will be displayed on the iconic Double Trigger statue. Additionally, YAA yellow banners and signage will help to transform the racecourse into a sea of yellow to symbolising Doncaster’s solidarity with Yorkshire Air Ambulance’s Yellow Yorkshire campaign and vital missions.

Attendees can enhance their experience with the Hospitality Package – an Exclusive Royal Box Experience. This comprehensive package offers a range of benefits including a three-course meal, race card, dedicated YAA hosts, private bar facilities, and a secluded balcony for optimal race viewing.

Community Fundraising Manager for West and South Yorkshire, Vickie Cowan, said, “I am thrilled to see the enthusiasm and support from our local community for the Yellow Yorkshire race night. Events like these not only bring people together for a day of fun and excitement but also play a crucial role in raising the funds needed to keep our lifesaving service operational. Yorkshire Air Ambulance receives no government funding and relies almost entirely on donations – we simply couldn’t help the growing number of people who need us, without the support and generosity of our loyal supporters – we look forward to seeing you all at the racecourse!”

Yorkshire Air Ambulance also extends its gratitude to local businesses sponsoring the evenings races, including Park Lodge Shooting School, The Lister Arms Malham, Brewin Dolphin, 5 Rise Contractors and Bentley Drains, who are all directly contributing to YAA’s cause and ensuring the race festival’s success.

Mark Edwards, Sales Manager for the North at Arena Racing, expressed his enthusiasm for supporting Yorkshire Air Ambulance, stating, “It’s been a pleasure working closely with Yorkshire Air Ambulance in the run-up to this racing event. We aspire to make a real difference with the funds raised and eagerly anticipate welcoming all of Yorkshire Air Ambulance’s guests to Doncaster for an incredible night of horse racing and fundraising.”

Yorkshire Air Ambulance make switch to innovative new fuel

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From Monday 1st of April, the two Airbus H145 D3 helicopters the Charity operates will be fuelled by Yorkshire Tea.

Steve Waudby, Director of Aviation at YAA explains: “The people of Yorkshire are pretty much fuelled by Yorkshire Tea, so why not the YAA helicopters?  We have been considering making the switch for a while now, and today was the big day.  The kettle is on continual boil whilst our crew makes sure that there is always a proper brew ready to fill the helicopters up with.

We had considered other alternative fuel sources however Yorkshire Tea was the obvious choice.  It’s at the heart of everything we do at YAA.  Crew morning brief with a cup of Yorkshire Tea, debrief after a serious incident with a cup of Yorkshire Tea, quick brew before the end of each shift – even our Head Office staff can’t function without a continual supply of Yorkshire Tea.  It just made sense for us to switch the helicopters over to running on Yorkshire Tea too.”

Steve concluded: “Obviously it’s going to take a lot of teabags to keep both helicopters in the air and helping to save lives across Yorkshire.  As an independent Charity, we rely solely on the generosity of our supporters to help us raise those vital funds.  So, if anyone would like to donate towards the fuelling of G-YAAA and G-YORX, please head over to our website and donate at www.yorkshireairambulance.co.uk/donate.

YAA Launches New Schools Initiative as Part of Upcoming Yellow Yorkshire Campaign

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Yorkshire Air Ambulance is inviting all primary schools, nurseries and childcare settings across Yorkshire to become Heli Heroes by taking on their brand new ‘Heli Hop’ challenge this April.

The Heli Hop involves children taking on the sponsored hop, skip, run or walk at a time and date in April decided by the education or childcare setting, all while dressed in custom Heli Hop headbands provided by the emergency service charity.

In addition, each child will receive a certificate following their Heli Hop, celebrating their commitment to making a positive impact within their local community.

Yorkshire Air Ambulance’s Heli Hop offers schools a unique educational opportunity, combining learning about the vital air ambulance service and the impact of community involvement, whilst encouraging physical activity, aligning with the UK’s learning curriculum.

With 9 schools across Yorkshire currently on board and over 1000 students registered to take part, the Heli Hop is poised to make a significant contribution to the fundraising campaign, thereby greatly supporting YAA’s life-saving missions.

Specialist HEMS Paramedic, Matty McCabe, said, “The Heli Hop is an exciting addition to our Yellow Yorkshire campaign, and I’m thrilled that we can offer a glimpse into our life-saving missions to local children. Who knows, perhaps one of them will be inspired to pursue a career as a paramedic or work in HEMS. Every school and childcare provider that joins us on our Heli Hop challenge, stands in solidarity with our life-saving work, ensuring we can continue flying across Yorkshire and making a difference where it matters most!”

The Yellow Yorkshire campaign, which is celebrating its 10th anniversary, has grown over the years from a one-day event to an entire fundraising month in April, raising thousands of pounds to support the vital work of Yorkshire Air Ambulance.

Regional Fundraising Manager for North and East Yorkshire, Tessa Klemz, said, “We can’t wait to see how many local schools and nurseries join us this year, not only will they have fun with friends, but they will be learning about the essential services that we offer to our patients and their families.”

To sign up your school or childcare setting up for this year’s Heli Hop click here.  

A team of eight Roads Policing Officers from West Yorkshire Police are cycling coast2coast to raise money for the Yorkshire Air Ambulance.

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From Whitehaven to Sunderland, the team of eight Roads Policing Officers from West Yorkshire Police will cycle circa 130 miles in just 3 days, raising money for the Yorkshire Air Ambulance.

The Yorkshire Air Ambulance is a charity solely run by donations, relying on the generosity of the public to help keep both their air ambulances maintained and in the air, which costs £12,000 every day.

Richard Clarke, West Yorkshire Police, Roads Policing Officer said:

“We as a team, among other things attend, help and investigate all the serious and fatal road collisions in West Yorkshire. Our work often includes incidents where the Yorkshire Air Ambulance will be deployed to the scene. We can recall numerous incidents we have dealt with where the helicopter has attended, and lives have clearly been saved by air lifting patients to the hospitals in the golden hour of first aid.”

Compliance365 are sponsoring the West Yorkshire Police on their Coast2Coast cycle, raising money through dress down days in their office and purchasing limited addition Yorkshire Air Ambulance cycling jerseys for the team to wear during their cycle.

The Coast2Coast cycle will take place from the 2nd of October to the 4th of October, with the Road Policing Officers starting straight after their night shift!

Yummy Fest 2017

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Yummy Fest, which takes place on the 15th & 16th of July, has seen over 20,000 visitors flock to site since its inaugural year in 2015 and 2017 promises to be even better. 2017 sees Yorkshire Air Ambulance return as the festivals named charity partner, with a helicopter landing scheduled for the Sunday the 16th of July 2017, subject to operational requirements.

Yummy Yorkshire will also welcome Wakefield Grammar School Foundation on site as the main sponsor.

 

Yummy Fest pays homage to the ice cream company’s farming heritage with a display of vintage tractors but that forms only a small part of this family friendly event. Visitors will be able to enjoy FREE entertainment across the course of the weekend, with plenty to keep the littlies and grown-ups busy, including:

·         hands on craft and chocolate workshops,

·         interactive dance sessions with StarMovers,

·         pizza cooking demonstrations with DeliVita Ltd,

·         Wakefield Grammar School Foundation, Yummy Fest’s main sponsor, will also be on site encouraging visitors to take part in a little healthy competition in the shape of a swing ball contest (or two),

·         a dedicated kids zone with children’s fairground rides, a small steam train ride and of course the Yummy Yorkshire Ice Cream trailer,

·         a variety of live music and entertainment from local bands and artists.

In keeping with Yummy Yorkshire’s culinary passion, there will be an abundance of street food producers on site selling their amazing produce along with a Stancill Brewery Bar in the main event tent.  Add to this a Made and Found Market showcasing some of the best local artisan producers and Yummy Fest offers something for all the family to enjoy!

 

Visitors are also invited to carry on the fun as Ordinary Men ROCK the Saturday evening party at Yummy Fest 2017! Adult entrance tickets cost £7.50 and are available from The Parlour or online at www.yummyyorkshire.co.uk/shop.

 

Yummy Yorkshire’s owner Jeremy Holmes commented:

 

“We’re very excited about Yummy Fest 2017, last year’s event was really well received and we hope to build upon its success offering visitors a relaxed festival feel that has something to offer all the family”.

 

“We are delighted to be able to support Yorkshire Air Ambulance again this year, the work they do is invaluable, especially in the rural community in which we live”.

 

“We’re gearing up for a festival atmosphere with lots of family fun, think excellent acoustic music sets, craft and chocolate making workshops, cooking demonstrations and may be even some raw milk sampling, there really will be something for everyone to enjoy.  Gate entry into the event is FREE, visitors will simply be asked to make a minimum donation of £2 for parking with proceeds being donated to Yorkshire Air Ambulance. Camping will be available onsite and we welcome Ordinary Men who promise to rock our Saturday evening party!”

 

“We really look forward to welcoming visitors on site for this family festival!”

Anybody interested in showing a vehicle should contact Yummy Yorkshire direct or visit our site to download a registration form; www.yummyyorkshire.co.uk/tractor-fest.

 

Yorkshire Air Ambulance sign new five-year recycling deal with BIU Group

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The YAA has worked with BIU since 2005 and now has over 260 textile recycling banks at household waste sites, supermarkets and car parks across Yorkshire.

The charity’s Partnerships Manager Katie Collinson said: “We have a brilliant relationship with BIU, who give us a percentage of all recycled material we collect. This is usually worth around £300,000 each year which is amazing.

“We are looking forward to further developing our partnership and hope people across Yorkshire will continue to support us by donating the things they no longer want.”

BIU has been recycling unwanted clothes, shoes and household textiles for the past 12 years, generating vital income streams for its charity partners.

Dave Swindells, BIU’s Managing Director, said: “Our textile recycling scheme was launched with the Yorkshire Air Ambulance in 2005 and we are delighted to have raised over £2.5 million over this time, helping to fund the amazing work carried out by the charity.

“Together we have grown the scheme to enable the charity to invest in its life-saving work and help with daily operational costs. We would like to thank local businesses and the general public for their generous support of this scheme.

“We look forward to continuing working in partnership with the YAA for many years to come, growing our network of clothing banks throughout Yorkshire and securing this essential funding for the charity.”

Yorkshire Air Ambulance serves 5million people and carries out over 1,250 missions every year. It needs to raise £12,000 every day and has just replaced its two, ageing aircraft with brand new, state-of-the-art Airbus H145 helicopters.

Picture caption: From L to R: Yorkshire Air Ambulance paramedic Kit von Mickwitz, BIU Group Directors Barry Wilson, Helen Walker and Louise Knapton with BIU Charity Partnership Manager Wendy Yarney and Yorkshire Air Ambulance Director of Fundraising Paul Gowland.

BIU Group launch their Milestone Scheme!

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In order to recieve generous donations of old textiles, clothing banks must be hosted by secure and easily accessible sites. These sites include supermarkets large and small, carparks and other public areas. Hosting these banks means that charities such as ourselves and the BIU Group are able to continue recieving and generating this service.

The BIU Group Milestone Scheme recognises the generosity and hard work of site hosts who host a BIU textile recycling bank to raise money for their local charity. The Milestone Scheme is divided into 4 categories and calculated across 12 months from the 1st January each year.

If a clothing bank on a site has over 600 bags donated they will be awarded Bronze status, an end of year thankyou certificate will be issued and displayed to bronze status sites. Silver staus is awarded when a site reaches over 1200 bags, sites of whom will then recieve social media thankyous and coverage as well as a certificate.

A site that hosts a bag that has over 2400 bags donated will be awarded Gold status. For those that reach Gold status, BIU will add photos of the bank and site, cover on social media and issue a display certificate. Finally should a site host have a bank overflowing with 3000+ bags of textiles donated that site will then be awarded Platinum status. In this case BIU Group will ask the charity partner to issue a press release to celebrate the fantastic achievment, including a photo.

This scheme is aimed at raising money for local charities, showing gratitude for local site hosts and looking after the local communities. For more information about the scheme you can contact info@biugroup.co.uk

Students at a York Secondary School to Release Amazing New Christmas Album to Raise Money for the Yorkshire Air Ambulance

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Students at Manor CE Academy were so upset when a fellow student had an accident at school that they wanted to do something to say thank you to the people who saved him. So year 9 music students (aged 13-14) have written and recorded six new original Christmas songs to raise money for the Yorkshire Air Ambulance. The album, called “The Light”, features the six new songs and a hilarious new podcast by Wes, Josh and Brad Needham, triplet brothers in year 11. The album was all produced by students and staff in the music department and will be available to pre-order on the iTunes music store from 23rd November. The official release date is 5th December and all proceeds will go to the Yorkshire Air Ambulance Charity.