A Heartfelt Thank You and Best Wishes for the Festive Season from TAAS

As we approach the end of another year, we want to take a moment to reflect on the incredible impact our supporters, volunteers, staff, and patients have had on The Air Ambulance Service (TAAS) which operates the Children’s Air Ambulance (TCAA) and Your local air ambulance WNDLR.

This festive season, we invite you to “Believe in the joy of giving, for kindness is the greatest gift.” It’s through your generosity, compassion, and unwavering support that we’ve been able to achieve so much together in 2024. Whether you’ve made a donation, volunteered your time, shopped in one of our stores, shared your story, partaken in one of our events, or simply spread the word about our lifesaving work, each act of kindness has helped us continue our mission to save lives and support families in their time of need.

Your local air ambulance WNDLR: 3,468 missions and more

This year, up to the end of November, Your local air ambulance WNDLR has responded to an impressive 3,468 missions—each one a reminder of how kindness, in the form of support, dedication, and care, makes all the difference. We are proud to have received an ‘Outstanding’ Care Quality Commission (CQC) rating for our clinical services at the Warwickshire & Northamptonshire Air Ambulance, the highest recognition available, which reflects the hard work and commitment of our lifesaving crews.

2024 also saw a historic milestone as Your local air ambulance WNDLR undertook a special day of missions where it took to the skies with its first all-female crew—Dr Hadassah, Critical Care Paramedic Sophie, and Pilot Jen—showcasing the diverse talent that drives our services forward. We also celebrated our commitment to excellence with Surgical Skills Training Days and recognition at the AAUK Conference & Awards, where we were shortlisted for four prestigious awards.

Our innovation continues to shine through, with the Blood on Board Poster winning at the East Midlands Trauma Conference, and our research being presented at conferences across the country, all in service of advancing pre-hospital care. Each one of these accomplishments is a direct result of your kindness and support, and for that, we are deeply grateful.

TCAA: A Year of Growth and Impact

The Children’s Air Ambulance (TCAA) has also had an incredible year. With over 193 missions completed in 2024, we’ve been able to transfer critically ill children and babies across the UK, providing vital care and ensuring they receive the treatment they need, when they need it most. We celebrated our 400th mission carrying parents, a touching reminder of how vital the bond between families and their children is, especially during challenging times.

This year, our vital national charity proudly reached its 1,000th mission—a landmark achievement that reflects our vital role in paediatric and neonatal care across the UK. This milestone further highlights the importance of the work the charity does, and the difference we make to young patients and their families.

In 2024, we also launched extended flying hours (08:00 to 22:00), expanding our coverage to ensure we are there for even more families when they need us. We’ve visited all 11 NHS Clinical Partner teams, strengthening our collaborative work and ensuring the best possible transfers of young patients. Additionally, the Phase 2 modifications to our aircraft are making an incredible impact, enhancing our ability to deliver our pioneering service.

As we reflect on the year and look ahead to 2025, we want to take this opportunity to express our heartfelt thanks to everyone who has been part of our journey. Your generosity, time, and unwavering support have made everything we do possible. This festive season, we are reminded that the greatest gift is the spirit of giving—and it is through the selflessness and dedication of people like you that we are able to continue providing these vital services to our communities.

Whether through donations, fundraising, shopping, volunteering, or sharing our message, your support has made every mission possible. Our crews will be working tirelessly this Christmas and New Year, saving lives, making vital transfers, and providing critical care when it’s needed most. Your support allows us to continue doing what we do best—delivering lifesaving care and making a meaningful difference.

On behalf of everyone at The Air Ambulance Service, we wish you a Merry Christmas and a New Year filled with joy, peace, and hope. Thank you for being an essential part of our vital work. Together, we can continue to make a real impact by helping to save more lives and bringing comfort and care to those who need it most, one mission at a time.

With heartfelt thanks,
The Air Ambulance Service Team