General

Yorkshire Air Ambulance has made a festive fund raising plea to fill a Christmas recycling sack for the region’s Helicopter Heroes.

The rapid response charity is calling on people to have a Christmas clear-out of unwanted clothes, shoes, bags, curtains and bedding and donate it through their successful recycling campaign.

“The lead up to the festive season and the Christmas period itself is a really good time to have a clear-out of those wardrobes and drawers,” said YAA Partnership Manager Katie Collinson.

“So we’re asking people if they will make us a gift of their unwanted items – whether it’s that dodgy Christmas jumper or slippers, or that dress that’s been hung up for years but is never worn. It’ll be an ideal Christmas present for the YAA!

“We work closely with our recycling partner BIU Group and since we launched our recycling scheme back in 2005, over £1million has been raised through recycling across the region – recycling is worth around £300,000 per year to the Charity and is a valuable sustainable income stream for us.

“So filling a recycling sack is a Christmas gift that doesn’t cost people any money but means so much to us.”

Yorkshire Air Ambulance, which provides a rapid response emergency service to 5million people, needs to raise £9,990 each day to keep its two helicopters in the air and maintained – that is equivalent to £3.6 million a year.

The charity has over 250 textile recycling banks at household waste sites, supermarkets and car parks across the county.

You can find out where your nearest bank is by either going to the BIU Group website (www.biugroup.co.uk) and clicking on the Bank Locator icon or by calling 01422 418 618.

The YAA operates two helicopters from bases in West and North Yorkshire and in its 13-year history has transported more than 5,200 patients.

Caption: (L-R) Paramedics Sammy Wills, Matt Syratt & Sam Burgess and , Pilot Captain Steve Cobb

#P4P5

This season Huddersfield Town Football Club launch the fifth annual Pedal for Pounds sponsored bike ride in aid of the ‘Keep It Up’ campaign.

The Keep It Up campaign is a partnership between the Yorkshire Air Ambulance and Huddersfield Town FC which works together to raise money for YAA and Huddersfield Town’s Academy.

The Keep It Up campaign is a Key Partnership for the Yorkshire Air Ambulance. It gives the charity vital sustainable revenue which helps us to continue to provide our life-saving service.

The Club’s previous four bike rides have contributed over £600,000 to the £980,000 raised for the campaign so far since its inception in 2009.

The YAA are very proud of our affiliation with HTAFC and its supporters. We are excited and committed to be working with them further as we push to reach our £1million fundraising target which we hope to achieve this season.

We are pleased to announce the details of the Pedal 4 Pounds 5 (#P4P5)!

The ride will start on Wednesday 23rd April 2014 to Saturday 26th April 2014 from Arsenal to Huddersfield, The Herbert Chapman trial.

Herbert Chapman managed both Huddersfield and Arsenal. Chapman managed Huddersfield Town, between 1921–1925 winning an FA Cup and two First Division titles in the space of four years.

In 1925, Arsenal successfully tempted Chapman to join them, and he brought the previously trophy-less club an FA Cup and two First Division titles. Herbert Chapman was Yorkshire born and bred from Kiveton Park near Rotherham.

The route will be as follows:

Wednesday 23rd April – Depart Huddersfield by coach very early! Cyclists taken to the Emirates Stadium, for afternoon set off. The evening stop over is Cambridge.

Thursday 24th April – Depart Cambridge, evening stop over is Leicester

Friday 25th April – Depart Leicester, evening stop over is Doncaster

Saturday 26th April – Depart Doncaster for the final leg back to Huddersfield. Arrive back at the stadium for final home game of the season v Leicester City.

The total mileage is approximately 250 miles.

If you would like to take part in the Pedal for Pounds 5 bike ride, please download a sign up form. Just copy this link into your browser, http://bit.ly/IipbJJ and return along with the £40 registration fee (non-refundable, covers ride insurance, ride jersey, dinner, water, snacks and coach transport for yourself and your bike to London).

Forms can be posted FAO Robyn Deegan, HTAFC, John Smith’s Stadium, Huddersfield, HD1 6PX or handed in at main reception or ticket office windows. Cheques should be made out to ‘Keep It Up’ campaign.

For more information please contact Supporter Partnerships Manager Robyn Deegan on robyn.deegan@htafc.com.

The deadline date for entries is 24 January 2014.

Read more at

http://www.htafc.com/news/article/keep-it-up-p4p5-1200977.aspx#KZFT3uzwpuCou3ZD.99

We are delighted to be Real Radio Yorkshire’s chosen charity for their All Day Christmas Party which is to take place on the 13th December.

Dixie, Gayle & their brave breakfast team will be hosting the whole day from 6am right through to 7pm! They have organised a full day of crazy challenges and guest stars – there’s plenty of ways for everyone to get involved.

The rest of the Real Radio team will also be out and about across the area, trying to gather as much money as possible and visiting many of the hardworking fundraisers along the way.

Why not make a jingle for Dixie and Gayle to show your support? The 13th December is all about raising as much money as possible, so the Real Radio team have bowed out of spending money making jingles – this is where you come in.

Get your workmates together, your class, club or friends and come up with a jingle that Dixie & Gayle can play at the All Day Christmas Party. They’re not after an advert, just something short and sweet that lets people know exactly what they’re listening to.

You can be as creative as you like, the only thing you need to qualify is the following line:

“Dixie & Gayle’s All Day Christmas Party on Real Radio- Raising Money for The Yorkshire Air Ambulance”

You could sing it, say it, shout it, whisper it but whatever you do RECORD it and email your effort to breakfast@realradio.co.uk.

The Real Radio Team will play as many as they can on the day so make sure your listening to hear yours!

This is a fantastic opportunity for YAA and we are so pleased to be the chosen charity!

You can start sending your donations in now, text REAL05 to 70070 to donate £5 or make sure you’re listening to Real Radio on 13th December or keep following YAA's social media to find out how else you can be involved on the day!

The Yorkshire Air Ambulance have today flown their first mission from the Charity’s new state-of-the-art air support unit at Nostell Priory near Wakefield.

The rapid response helicopter was called to a road traffic collision involving a male cyclist and a vehicle in Holmfirth near Huddersfield and flew to the scene of the incident in only 9 minutes.

However the patient subsequently travelled to hospital by land ambulance after his injuries were not life threatening.

Yorkshire Air Ambulance has relocated one of its two helicopters from its existing base Leeds Bradford Airport to the purpose-developed air support unit in the grounds of the Nostell Estate.

The move will enable the charity to improve its coverage and response times to patients in the west and south of the county, with its second helicopter continuing to operate from its base at RAF Topcliffe near Thirsk, covering the North and Eastern part of the region.

As well as benefiting from an enhanced location, the Charity will have larger hangar space for its helicopter, on-site accommodation, a dedicated fuel bowser, helipad facility, improved office facilities and greater space in general.

The new location will mean better operational availability for its aircraft given the lower altitude of Nostell compared with previous base at Leeds Bradford Airport which was often affected by fog at various times throughout the year.

The Charity will see some cost savings as a result of the move which will come from having on site accommodation and buying fuel directly from the supplier.

Peter Sunderland, Chairman of the Yorkshire Air Ambulance explains: “This relocation to Nostell is a major step forward for Charity. It will enhance our service across the region, improving flying times to all areas and creating an operational overlap in our busiest areas.

“We are located on an independent site with a long-term lease which gives us stability and the opportunity to deliver an even better service to the people of Yorkshire.”

The development has seen the conversion of a pre-existing warehouse into a helicopter hangar, the creation of a landing pad and fuel area plus new offices, communications area and air crew accommodation.

Nostell will be manned 365 days a year and emergency flights will only take place during daylight hours, in line with CAA (Civil Aviation Authority) and planning ruling.

The independent charity provides a rapid response emergency service to five million people across Yorkshire – England’s largest region. It needs to raise £9,990 each day to keep its two helicopters in the air and maintained.

With no direct government funding the only help the charity receives is the provision of their paramedics from the Yorkshire Ambulance Service NHS Trust.

In its 13-year history the YAA has transported more than 5,200 patients to hospitals across Yorkshire. Last it its two helicopters flew 933 missions and carried 444 patients – an 18 per cent increase on the previous year.

Huddersfield Town FC have announced the dates for the fifth annual Pedal for Pounds sponsored bike ride in aid of the ‘Keep It Up’ campaign!

The event will begin on Wednesday 23 April 2014 and will end on Saturday 26 April 2014.

Full details of the event including destination and route information will be revealed at the end of November- keep checking htafc.com for more details.

Read more at

http://www.htafc.com/news/article/keep-it-up-p4p5-date-1171792.aspx#y2sX2OvXV82GbzCo.99

A courageous York teenager, whose life was saved by Yorkshire Air Ambulance, has received a special award from her helicopter heroes.

Charlotte Leighton, 18, was honoured at a Recognition Awards evening held by the independent charity to mark the amazing achievements, commitment and courage of volunteers, official fundraisers and corporate supporters.

Charlotte of Tollerton, near York, almost died seven years ago after suffering severe facial injuries in a road accident outside her home.

The badly injured girl was airlifted to Leeds General Infirmary by Yorkshire Air Ambulance where surgeons re-built her shattered face using pioneering facial reconstruction surgery. Since then Charlotte and her family have raised well over £50,000 for the rapid response charity.

A wide range of organisations and companies were also recognised for their support at the special dinner at RAF Linton-on-Ouse hosted by YAA patron and ITV Calendar presenter Gaynor Barnes.

They included Yorkshire free range egg company James Potter, which displays the YAA logo on all its packaging and is donating 1p from every pack of 12 eggs sold to the rapid response charity which should create an annual income stream of £20,000 a year for the air ambulance charity.

The family-run farm is just a few fields away from YAA’s northern base at RAF Topcliffe, near Thirsk, and supplies eggs to all the major supermarkets across Yorkshire.

RAF Linton on Ouse and the 4th Regiment Royal Artillery, Alanbrooke Barracks, were joint winners of this year’s Chairman’s Award to recognise their efforts in helping the YAA successfully relocate to RAF Topcliffe.

The YAA is an independent rapid response emergency service serving 5 million people across Yorkshire. Without any direct government funding, the only help the charity receives is through the secondment of their paramedics from the Yorkshire Ambulance Service NHS Trust.

In its 13-year history the charity has carried more than 5,200 people but needs to raise £9,900 each day to keep its two helicopters in the air and maintained – equivalent to £3.6 million a year.

Charlotte Leighton receives her award from Suzanne Walton of award sponsors Arco.

Team members at the Wilko store in Abbey Walk Shopping Centre, Selby, are preparing for a fiendishly fabulous Halloween event to raise vital funds for Yorkshire Air Ambulance, the store’s regional charity of the year.

Donning fangs and spooky fancy dress instead of their usual red uniforms, team members will hold the creepy event on Saturday 26th and Sunday 27th October when they will be inviting customers to take part in an array of ghoulish activities, to raise awareness and funds for the worthwhile cause.

Brave customers and children will be entertained by a range of spook-tacular activity for kids, including a pumpkin carving masterclass and a colouring competition, while shoppers will also be able to purchase some homemade creepy cakes.

Andy Heaton, store manager, said: “Our team members can’t wait to dig out their super scary costumes and we’d love our loyal customers to come along and join in the fun.

“They’ve always been avid supporters of our fundraising events in the past and we hope our Halloween activities will help make a difference to Yorkshire Air Ambulance.”

Bob Smailes, from Yorkshire Air Ambulance, said: “We rely on donations to keep the charity going, so having such wonderful support from Wilko is a fantastic helping hand for us.

“The team at the Selby store is really enthusiastic about fundraising for our charity and we know this time will be no different – we hope they have a fang-tastic time!”

A family owned firm after more than 80 years of trading, JK Wilkinson opened the first Wilko store on Charnwood Street, Leicester, in 1930. The company’s portfolio has expanded significantly over the decades that have followed and there are currently 372 stores across the UK, including 10 in Scotland.

Serving 10.5 million customers each year and selling over 25,000 product lines, including health & beauty, cleaning products, seasonal essentials and homewares both in store and online at Wilko.com, Wilko is dedicated to providing its customers with high quality products, choice and first class, friendly service.

Wilko is committed to Britain’s high streets and prides itself on being a community focused retailer, actively supporting local charities, community groups and empowering its team members to support great causes that are locally important to them.

This years Walk For Pounds saw 175 Huddersfield Town Fans and Fundraisers take on the 19 miles from YAA Air Base at Leeds Bradford Airport back to their home ground, The John Smith Stadium.

Together with Town's Academy, The Yorkshire Air Ambulance will benefit from all the hard work and dedication of The Keep It Up Fundraising Campaign.

Since the campaign's launch in 2009, £964,000 had been raised and with the £1m mark insight walkers marched on knowing their target was in reach.

Town Chairman, Dean Hoyle said he was delighted with the support behind this year's event.

"It went really well, the weather was on our side and everybody was in good spirits."

"The highlight of any of the walks or cycles is those who take part getting the recognition when they get back to the stadium."

Yorkshire Air Ambulance Director of Fundraising Paul Gowland, who also took part in the walk said, "It was absolutely fabulous at 5.30am to see so many people ready and raring to go and willing to walk for six hours.

"There was a mix of young people and more experienced walkers and the camaraderie was phenomenal."

Mr Gowland stressed the importance of what has now become and established event on the club's charity calendar.

"It's hugely important and is as much about the message about the work we do as the fundraising."

Yorkshire Air Ambulance has been shortlisted for the Lloyds Bank Community Fund 2013 in South Halifax.

The rapid response charity is urging people to vote for them for a chance to be awarded a £3,000 grant from Lloyds Bank.

Yorkshire Air Ambulance is an independent charity providing a rapid response emergency service to five million people across Yorkshire – England’s largest region. It needs to raise £9,900 each day to keep its two helicopters in the air and maintained.

The service operates two helicopters from bases in West and North Yorkshire and in its 13-year history has transported more than 5,000 patients to hospitals across England’s largest region.

Janet O’Hara, Grants and Trusts Officer from YAA said: “We’re delighted to have been shortlisted for the Lloyds Bank Community Fund! What makes this one so special for us is our Charity HQ is based in Elland so we couldn’t be any more local to the branches!

“We are a totally independent charity, receiving no government funding so to be awarded monies from funds like the Lloyds Community Bank is vital to help us keep both of our helicopter in the air and saving lives. We would be very grateful if people voted for us to help us try and win the £3,000 grant. The money would help significantly towards our daily running costs.”

The Lloyds Bank Community Fund is helping local people to have a positive impact at the heart of their communities by giving grants to over 1,300 local good causes in villages, towns and cities across England and Wales. In each community, four local good causes will receive an award – two of £3,000 and two of £300.

To vote for Yorkshire Air Ambulance go to the Lloyds Bank Community Fund website at: www.lloydsbank.com/communityfund. You can also vote by texting VOTE KKJC to 61119 or in person in Lloyds branches at Brighouse and Elland.

Community Fund 2013 voting is open until 1 November 2013.

Approximately 4,000 people descended upon the hotel in Pontefract on August 1st to raise money for the Yorkshire Air Ambulance, as well as to celebrate all things Yorkshire.

Crowds basked in the summer sunshine, enjoying food and drink from Yorkshire-based suppliers. Entertainment on the day included a falconry display, a police dog demonstration and a floral show from celebrity florist Carl Wilde.

At midday, The YAA landed one of their Helicopters in the hotel grounds, giving children the opportunity to meet the pilots, sit in the cockpit and have their photo taken.

Hotel manager Catherine Harrild said:

“It’s the third year running we've held the event and, once again, it’s exceeded our expectations. The weather was perfect and all the entertainment was fantastic. We’d like to thank everybody who attended and helped raise so much money for local charities.”

Kerry Garner, Yorkshire Air Ambulance Regional Fundraiser commented “The annual Yorkshire Day fundraiser at Wentbridge House is now a key event in the YAA calendar and we’d like to thank them very much for choosing to support our charity.

"This year’s event was fantastic and the whole day had a great atmosphere! We were delighted that one of our helicopters was also able to make a visit this year to help reinforce just why it is so important for us to raise the money we need. It costs £9,990 each day to run the charity, and we rely solely on individuals, groups and organisations such as Wentbridge House and its customers to help us raise those vital funds. We’d also like to thank everyone who came along on the day and supported the event.”

Yorkshire Air Ambulance Flying High After Wilko Renews Charity Support

Wilko stores across the county have renewed their pledge to support Yorkshire Air Ambulance, after raising more than £130,000 for the life-saving charity last year.

During 2012/13, staff at 18 Wilko stores completed a range of fundraising events and activities to help Yorkshire’s helicopter heroes.

Their efforts brought in a staggering £131,630 for the independent rapid response charity, which needs to raise £9,990 each day to keep its two aircraft flying.

Wilko team members have once again voted to support Yorkshire Air Ambulance (YAA) as their chosen charity and stores from York to Wakefield have already started their fundraising drive.

Kerry Garner, YAA Regional Fundraiser, said: “We have enjoyed a fantastic year of fundraising with the Wilko stores across Yorkshire.

“There have been some great fundraising events taking place and the enthusiasm from all the stores has been wonderful. To raise over £131,000 is absolutely phenomenal.

“We are also delighted to hear that the teams have chosen us for a second year of fundraising and we look forward to working with them again to raise vital funds to help keep both of our helicopters in the air and saving lives.”

A family owned firm after more than 80 years of trading, JK Wilkinson opened the first Wilko store on Charnwood Street, Leicester, in 1930. The company’s portfolio has expanded significantly over the decades that have followed and there are currently 372 stores across the UK, including 10 in Scotland.

Since opening its first store, Wilko has been committed to Britain’s high streets and prides itself on being a community-focused retailer, actively supporting local charities and community groups.

Cliff Hall, Wilko regional manager, said: “We’ve had a wonderful year supporting YAA and we hope the grand total raised by all the stores in the region will make a real difference.

“But we’re not stopping there – we can’t wait to get going with this year’s fundraising. There’s plenty of ideas in the pipeline and we hope our loyal customers will support them and see us on our way to another amazing total.”

Customers can also show their support to YAA by donating in one of the county’s 18 stores:

Armley, Huddersfield, Bradford, Headingley, Pontefract, Crossgates, Shipley, Dewsbury, Wakefield, Barnsley, Morley, Selby, Halifax, Brighouse, Clifton Moor (York), Castleford, Woodhouse Lane, Leeds Trinity

Photo caption: Kerry Garner, YAA West Yorkshire Regional Fundraiser with Wilkinson store managers and colleagues

Paramedics and doctors at Yorkshire Air Ambulance (YAA) have worked with the UK’s leading safety company to design new flight suits.

The customised salopettes and jackets have been produced by Arco, the Hull-based provider of workwear, personal protective equipment and workplace safety products.

The company’s designers worked closely with YAA medics to ensure the new suits meet the need to deliver emergency medical care to trauma patients – often in very difficult conditions.

YAA paramedic John Baxter said: “The suits are lighter while still providing all the protection we need to be able to do our job safely and effectively.

“It has been a very good process. We went to see the designers at Arco and they have been out to our Air Support Unit to see at first hand the demands placed on the suits.

“As well as being flame and tear resistant, they have micro-bacterial layers to ensure that any blood and other body fluids can’t penetrate. The knees have extra padding and the suits feature lots of pockets purpose-designed to fit what we need to carry.”

Arco is a major sponsor of YAA and supports the life-saving charity by providing advice and guidance on personal protective equipment.

Richard Sansom, Product and Procurement Manager – Hazardwear, at Arco said: “Our core purpose is to keep people safe at work and we’ve used our expertise in safety product design and development to produce these suits to meet the exact needs of the Yorkshire Air Ambulance team.

“They are often working in extreme conditions, helping to save lives and need to be able to rely on their uniforms and equipment to protect them as they carry out their demanding jobs. As experts in safety, we are proud to be associated with the Yorkshire Air Ambulance and fully support the essential work it does.”

YAA is an independent charity providing a rapid response emergency service to five million people across Yorkshire – England’s largest region. It needs to raise £9,900 each day to keep its two helicopters in the air and maintained.

The service operates two helicopters from bases in West and North Yorkshire and in its 13-year history has transported more than 5,000 patients to hospitals across Yorkshire.

Caption: Yorkshire Air Ambulance paramedics John Baxter and Tony Wilks in the new flight suits.