General

The family-owned water producer and bottler has placed the charity’s iconic yellow helicopters on the back of two trucks that deliver its own-label Ice Valley water across the region.

Shepley Spring is the UK’s largest independent bottled water company manufacturing over 250 million bottles per year at its two purpose-designed plants in Shepley and Kirkburton.

The company has chosen Yorkshire Air Ambulance as its official charity partner for the last four years but has also been supplying free water for the rapid response emergency service for considerably longer.

Managing Director James Smith said: “I am a keen cyclist and motor cyclist – both activities which are high up the risk list and so I know just how vital a service Yorkshire Air Ambulance provide.

“We, as a family, have had members and friends who have needed their services and so have a very clear understanding about just how important this charity is to Yorkshire.

“We, as a company, also do as much as we can to support Yorkshire so we are even more proud to support Yorkshire Air Ambulance, a brilliant charity that saves lives across the county.”

Shepley Spring produce their own Ice Valley brand as well bottling many Supermarket own-label spring waters – including those for Morrisons, Sainsbury, Aldi and Lidl.

As a leading supporter of Yorkshire Air Ambulance the company has its logo on the charity’s two, state-of-the-art Airbus H145 helicopters.

Now those helicopters make a striking sight on the back of the two Ice Valley Trucks as James added: “The trucks do a lot of their deliveries in Yorkshire and we thought this would be a great way to raise the profile of the Air Ambulance and to remind people that they have this great charity in their area.”

Yorkshire Air Ambulance serves 5million people and carries out over 1,250 missions every year. It needs to raise £12,000 every day to keep its two aircraft flying.

Director of Marketing and Communications Abby McClymont said: “Shepley Springs have been a great supporter of the YAA and we are delighted to work with them.

“The two trucks look absolutely amazing and really help us raise awareness of the charity across the region.  Seeing the image of one of our helicopters on the back doors is a great reminder to people of the work we do.

“We’d really like to thank James, his family and everyone at Shepley Springs for their continued support.”

Picture caption: One of the two Shepley Spring lorries which are carrying the Yorkshire Air Ambulance message throughout the county.

The Deputy Community Banking Director in Yorkshire for Barclays Bank will visit 45 bank branches on his route and will be joined daily by Barclays colleagues who are also raising funds and sponsorship money.

David, from Nidderdale, said: “I did Land’s End to John O’Groats ten years ago and wanted to do another major walk that would link Barclays across the North and raise a lot of money for charity.

“Barclays has a fantastic Colleague Community Programme that encourages employees to get involved in the causes we care about in the communities we serve. 

“It’s about giving back skills, time and energy and I’m thrilled to be undertaking this challenge and to have had so much support. There’s been something of a movement that is gathering pace which is lovely.

“I wanted to pick a charity that people can relate to locally. I’m supporting five air ambulance services on the route, although given my roots, I expect the largest amount of fundraising will go to Yorkshire Air Ambulance.

 “Most people assume that they are Government funded but that is not the case and, certainly across Yorkshire, there are many people who know first- hand just what an amazing service the air ambulance provides.”

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.

David, 54, will be visiting 13 Barclays branches in Yorkshire during his Great North Walk including Leeds, Sheffield, Doncaster, Bradford, Skipton and Harrogate.

He has set up a JustGiving page. If you would like to support David please go to https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/davidpenngreatnorthwalkyaa

Jean, 80, has helped to raise more than £500,000 for Yorkshire Air Ambulance over the last 11 years by running two stalls and a card shop at the old market hall with her team of volunteers.

The market’s refurbishment meant a move to the lower ground floor vaults, but the YAA now has an extra two units which have been combined to create a large, dedicated clothing shop selling high-quality fashion donated by dress agencies.

Jean said: “We moved down to the vaults when the refurbishment project started and now have a larger presence – with a proper clothing department – which will hopefully attract more people to come downstairs.

“Everything we sell is donated and we have such tremendous support in Scarborough from local people and visitors which we hope will continue.  We would like to thank everyone in Scarborough and the surrounding areas for their continued support and their donations to the stalls.  The support we receive is overwhelming and enables us to keep running our outlet.”

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 in Scarborough and the surrounding area.

To honour her amazing contribution, Jean received a special award in 2015 from the charity, which serves 5million people across Yorkshire and carries out over 1,250 missions every year.

Due to their expansion into the Market Vaults, Jean is also now looking for some extra volunteers to help her keep the outlets running.

“We have a lovely team of volunteers now that work with us in the Market Vaults and with the busy summer season fast approaching we are now looking out for some extra helpers.  People can commit to as much or as little time as they can spare.  A few days, one day a week or a morning or an afternoon would be a fantastic help to us.”

The YAA 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.

The £2.8m refurbishment of the Grade 11 listed Scarborough market building was unveiled earlier this month and was made possible through a grant from the Coastal Communities Fund, administered by the Big Lottery Fund.

The market makeover incudes new units on the main floor and the addition of a mezzanine level above to create new shops, offices and a food court.

Paul Cording, a roads policing sergeant with North Yorkshire Police, had no doubt about which charity to support when entering his first ever marathon.

“With my job, I am on the scene of quite a lot of fatal and life changing road traffic collisions and I see at first hand the amazing work the Yorkshire Air Ambulance do,” he said.

“I cover the whole of North Yorkshire which has 6,000 miles of road covering everything from very rural areas to major towns and coastal resorts and the air ambulance can get everywhere in such a short period of time.

“I see on a weekly basis the benefits the service brings in getting patients to major trauma centres within that first golden hour so they have the very best chance of survival and recovery.”

Paul, 45, is a regular hockey player rather than runner but completed the 26.2 miles in under five hours and would recommend the experience to everyone.

He added: “It was a really great day, and such a humbling experience. I have been just blown away by people’s generosity. I had an initial target of £500 and I’ve raised nearly £6,000 with Gift Aid which is just amazing.”

Yorkshire Air Ambulance serves 5million people across Yorkshire 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.

Linda Stead, North Yorkshire Community Fundraiser for the rapid response emergency charity, said: “We work in very close partnership with all the emergency services and we are very grateful to Paul for his amazing achievement – not just in running 26miles but in raising so much money for us.”

Photo caption: North Yorkshire policeman Paul Cording presents his cheque from running the London Marathon to (from left) Yorkshire Air Ambulance paramedic Pete Vallance, Pilot Capt Ian Mousette and paramedic Matt Syrat.

Former top advertising executive Tara Stewart is aiming to raise £50,000 for the rapid response emergency service following the accident near her family’s North Yorkshire home three years ago.

The 45-year-old tetraplegic also wants to raise a further £50,000 to support pioneering research into spinal cord regeneration. “I firmly believe that discovering a cure for paralysis will be the next great medical breakthrough of the 21st-century.”

Tara’s accident happened in July 2014, when she was thrown from her horse while riding near the family home at Stearsby, near Helmsley. She landed on her head, with the impact breaking her neck.

“I heard my neck snap and was instantly paralysed from the chest down,” said Tara, who endured a five-hour wait on the ground before a passing horse rider spotted her riderless mount and called the emergency services.

“I was a couple of fields away from home,” added Tara. “There was no road nearby and so my horse actually saved my life by staying with me.

“Stranded as I was in the middle of nowhere, it was impossible to get an ambulance to me and I knew, from the moment I hit the ground, that the only way to get me out would be by helicopter.”

A neighbouring Air Ambulance carried Tara in minutes to trauma specialists at the James Cook University Hospital, Middlesbrough as both YAA aircraft were attending other emergencies in the region.

Following an eight-hour operation to rebuild and stabilise her neck and two weeks in a medical coma, Tara spent a month in high dependency before being transferred to Pinderfields spinal unit in Wakefield where she remained for a further six months of physiotherapy and rehabilitation.

It was in hospital that Tara, and her internationally-renowned artist father David Howell, came up with an idea to raise money.

David Howell, a past President of the Royal Society of Marine Artists, has exhibited throughout the world. His work focuses on landscape and marine subjects, but he is also well known for his equestrian racing pictures, and so they decided to create a one-off, original racehorse oil with limited edition prints.

The painting is called ‘A Dirty Day at Duncombe Park’ and each print is one of a limited edition of 750, numbered and signed by David. Framed prints are £275 and unframed £150 with the proceeds being split between the YAA and Spinal Research.

Greeting cards are also available and come in packs of ten, costing £12.75.

Tara added: “My entire focus is on raising money. Obviously, I am passionate about supporting the amazing work of Yorkshire Air Ambulance. They are my local Air Ambulance and no one ever knows when they might need their services.

“As a tetraplegic, paralysed from the chest down, I also believe very passionately in the work of Spinal Research to fund a cure into spinal cord injury. I have a first-hand understanding of the absolute devastation to a life an injury like this can cause.

“Getting out of bed alone takes two hours. I used to be incredibly inpatient but I’m having to adjust to the fact that life now moves at a different pace.

“But, I am confident that we are very close to finding a cure for spinal injuries. Previously considered medically impossible, the last few years have seen some big breakthroughs in this area and more money is needed to keep pushing the frontiers of science.”

Abby McClymont, Director of Marketing & Communications added “Tara has been through a life-changing few years since her accident and she really is an inspiration to us all with her grit and determination.

“We are so grateful to both Tara and her father for choosing to support us through the sale of these beautiful prints.  It’s a wonderful way for them to be able to raise vital funds and showcase David’s fantastic work at the same time.”

Tara’s fundraising is also being supported by close friend Kate Rangeley who knows only too well just how vital Yorkshire Air Ambulance is after herself being airlifted after a horse riding accident.

For more information and to buy cards or prints please visit www.buckinghorses.co.uk

Road policing officer PC Russ Wylie was on routine patrol with a colleague near Burstwick, East Yorkshire, two years ago when his motorbike collided with a car on a bend.

The popular 28-year-old, who was engaged to be married, was airlifted to hospital by Yorkshire Air Ambulance but tragically died from his injuries the following day.

Since PC Wylie’s death, friends and police colleagues have organised a range of fund raising events and made donations through a special Police Federation JustGiving Page.

All the money given in PC Wylie’s memory is going to Yorkshire Air Ambulance. Russ’s proud father John Wylie said: “We know Yorkshire Air Ambulance does a fantastic job and give people the best possible chance by getting them to hospital so quickly.

“We have been very moved and touched by how many people have made donations in Russ’s memory – from friends and colleagues, but also people who did not even know him.

“There have been 890 separate donations on the Police Federation Just Giving page – including a police motorcyclist in the Cayman Islands and the daughter of a policeman killed on duty in America.”

PC Wylie, who attended school in Melton, near Hull, had moved from Brough to Grimsby shortly before his death to live with his fiancée Roxanne Hennebery.

Two of his closest friends Ben Holmes and Mike Woodford formed the Wylie Coyote Road Runners and,

with 13 others including Roxanne, raised nearly £4,000 for Yorkshire Air Ambulance after tackling the gruelling 43-mile-mile Keswick to Barrow race in the Lake District.

Ben, a retained fire fighter and engineer at BAE Systems in Brough, added: “Russ and I had been great friends since primary school. He was a funny, kind and caring person – just a great bloke – and his loss has impacted everyone that knew him.

“As a Firefighter, I’ve worked alongside the Air Ambulance on a few occasions and witnessed the great work they do. We wanted to take on the Keswick to Barrow challenge to raise money for this great charity in memory of our dear friend.”

Yorkshire Air Ambulance serves 5million people across Yorkshire 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.

David Hebden, Community Fundraiser for the YAA, added: “Russ’s family and friends have been a real inspiration since his tragic passing.  The strength they have found from each other to fundraise in his

memory is commendable and we are extremely grateful to everyone for their generous support.”

Caption: Ben Holmes presents his cheque on behalf of the Wylie Coyote Road Runners to David Hebden, Yorkshire Air Ambulance Community Fundraiser. Looking on are PC Wylie’s parents, John and Sue Wylie (far right standing) and his fiancée Roxanne Hennebery (second left kneeling).

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.

YORKSHIRE Air Ambulance will be flying high and staying airborne thanks to the generosity of one of the world’s leading manufacturers of working at height equipment.

Planet Platforms, Wakefield Bondholders 150th member, has pledged to sponsor the life saving two helicopter operation as it celebrates 40 years in business and its team is pledging a series of fund raising activities on behalf of the YAA.

The Wakefield head quartered business is already a key maintenance provider for YAA but to celebrate its own landmark wanted to give something back to the community it serves.  The sponsorship will guarantee YAA’s maintenance costs for at least a year.

Planet Platforms makes bespoke working at height solutions and off the shelf scaffolding for major aviation, defence, rail, offshore and construction companies around the world and wanted to mark its anniversary reflecting its core values.

“Yorkshire Air Ambulance ethos of protecting those in danger resonated with our founding principals,” said Peter Pemberton, MD.  “Planet Platforms has worked with Air, Sea and Rescue and the YAA for many years so it seemed logical to support them in our anniversary year.

“YAA is an independent charity operating two helicopters out of Nostell Priory in Wakefield and North Yorkshire.  Being on our doorstep they were an obvious choice for our anniversary year charity.

“It costs £4.4m each year to keep both aircraft flying and provide the valuable service the public relies on.  We have already planned a series of fund raisers throughout the year in addition to the sponsorship and would urge every one to support them.”

Donations can be made at www.yorkshireairambulance.co.uk/donate

Around 15,000 are expected to enjoy a weekend of top nosh, great grub, delectable drinks, excellent entertainment and family fun. Plus, joining the event this year is celebrity Aussie Masterchef, John Torode and our local hunky Yorkshire chef, James Martin.

James Martin said, “I had a great time entertaining the crowd at the event in 2016 and I’m really excited about coming back this year”.

Each year, Events By B3, the Event Management Company behind the event, choose an official charity to support. Rachael Higgins, Company Director said ‘we are really proud to be helping The Yorkshire Air Ambulance on their way to achieving the operational costs needed to help save even more lives across our area’.

The collaboration has been welcomed by Helen Gowans, Regional Fundraising Manager who said we need to raise £12,000 per day to keep both of Yorkshire Air Ambulance’s helicopters maintained and in the air. The donations received go directly into the lifesaving service provided. However, as an independent Charity we rely on the generosity of those who support the service to continue to save lives across Yorkshire.’

She added ‘we are extremely grateful to The Yorkshire Dales Food & Drink Festival for choosing us as their Charity for this year and we are very exciting to be attending the festival over the two days. We are hoping to raise as much money as we can to help keep our helicopters in the air and helping to save lives, as well as raising awareness of the Charity and the work we do.’

The Food and Drink Festival is a weekend family event and there’s plenty for the children to do, from the Vintage Fun Fair and educational talks about birds of prey to a kid’s area full of fun activities to keep them occupied – the event has it all!

The Yorkshire Air Ambulance fundraising team will also be in attendance trying to raise even more funds to help the cause, and are encouraging all festival visitors to pop and see the team should you have any questions or wish to get involved in fundraising yourself.

Tickets are available online now from www.yorkshiredalesfoodanddrinkfestival.com

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

The charity which was set up in 2000 operates two helicopters, one based at Topcliffe RAF Base, near Thirsk and Nostell Priory, near Wakefield. Being on our doorstep and a Planet Platforms customer made them an ideal partner to support.

The Yorkshire Air Ambulance is an independent charity providing a life-saving rapid response emergency service to 5 million people across the whole of Yorkshire.

To keep both of Yorkshire’s air ambulances maintained and in the air, the Charity needs to raise £12,000 every single day, which is the equivalent of £4.4M a year. The generosity they receive really is the life blood of the Charity.

Planet Platforms has already planned a number of events in the coming year to help raise funds and support the tremendous work that everyone at Yorkshire Air Ambulance provide 365 days a year.