Care And Compassion For Over 20 Years

With an ambitious goal to raise £1 million, the charity established key income streams including a lottery scheme and textile bag collections, which provided a vital source of regular funding. From the start, the support of local communities played a crucial role in sustaining the service.

To ensure patients could still receive critical care when the helicopter was grounded, WNAA leased two Rapid Response Vehicles (RRVs) from Rover — an early version of today’s critical care cars. Paramedics were seconded from NHS ambulance services, delivering expert care on the ground when every second mattered.

At this time, all paramedics were still seconded from NHS ambulance services, while dedicated doctors continued to volunteer their time, working shifts outside of their NHS roles.

The support from the community was growing steadily:

• 200 donors giving via standing order raised £9,000

• Our Gold Fundraising Members collectively raised an outstanding £1.26 million

• The charity’s lottery scheme reached £8,000 in income

These early contributions laid a strong financial foundation — helping us build a resilient, community-backed emergency service that would continue to evolve and expand.

That year also saw the introduction of several new fundraising innovations:

• We partnered with Reclaim to recycle mobile phones, turning unwanted devices into vital donations.

• The charity began accepting credit card payments, making it easier than ever for supporters to give.

These developments reflected our continued commitment to embracing technology and building a stronger, more sustainable future — all in support of saving lives.

This step solidified our commitment to being there whenever and wherever we’re needed most, providing consistent critical care to communities across the region.

That same year, WNAA gained national recognition, featuring on the Discovery Channel in a documentary focused on emergency care. This visibility helped raise awareness of the vital work we do and the impact of our service in real-time emergencies.

DLRAA began operations using the G-MEDS helicopter, while WNAA continued flying under G-WNAA, marking a key moment in the evolution of a multi-base emergency care service.

This year also saw the charity receive its single largest donation to date — an extraordinary £100,000 gift from The Soroptimist International of Rugby Charitable Trust. This contribution helped fuel our growing capabilities and impact across the region.

Together, WNAA and DLRAA formed a stronger, united front — committed to delivering advanced pre-hospital care wherever it’s needed most.

This year also saw the launch of the first-ever Rescue Ride Out — a fundraising motorbike event held in Leicestershire, bringing together supporters and riders in a show of solidarity for our cause.

In a more light-hearted moment, professional ballroom dancers Anton du Beke and Erin Boag joined us for a special staff team-building event, helping to boost morale and shine a spotlight on the incredible work of our teams.

• Retail Expansion: Our first Warwickshire & Northamptonshire Air Ambulance charity shop opened in Rugby, quickly followed by nine additional shops throughout the year. These shops became an essential and sustainable source of income, while also increasing our visibility on high streets across the region.

• New Look, Same Mission: The charity underwent a full rebrand, launching a refreshed logo to better reflect our evolving identity and ambition.

• Fleet Upgrade: The newly leased G-RSCU helicopter entered service for WNAA, delivering enhanced performance and reliability. At the same time, Volvo Rapid Response Vehicles (RRVs) replaced the original Rovers, boosting our ground-based critical care capability.

• Community Engagement: The first-ever Hero’s Run took place, with events held across Derbyshire and Leicestershire— bringing communities together in support of lifesaving care.

• New Home: In April, the charity moved into its new headquarters in Princethorpe, providing a permanent base to support our growing operations.

• The charity brought together both HEMS services — WNAA and DLRAA — under a single banner: The Air Ambulance Service (TAAS).

• TAAS took over the Children’s Air Ambulance and pledged to have the new national service operational by the end of 2012.

• We registered with the Care Quality Commission (CQC) as an independent healthcare provider, reinforcing our clinical credibility.

• G-HEMZ began service at DLRAA, enhancing our fleet and response capability.

• Our growing retail network was recognised with two prestigious Charity Retail Association Awards:
   • Retail Staff Member of the Year
   • WOW! Interior of the Year

• Fundraisers took on a life-changing trek up Mount Kilimanjaro, raising vital funds and awareness for our expanding services.

• In October, the Children’s Air Ambulance completed its first flight, marking the beginning of our national paediatric transfer service.

• TAAS began directly employing its own paramedics for the HEMS helicopters, strengthening internal expertise and operational control.

• The charity placed its first recycling bank in Northampton, expanding community fundraising opportunities.

• We opened the Landing Pad café in Daventry, combining community engagement with retail fundraising.

• A new charity shop partnership with Asda began, increasing footfall and awareness.

• Adventurous supporters took on a fundraising trek to Machu Picchu, supporting our growing services.

• At the Best Business Awards, The Air Ambulance Service was proudly named Best Employer, recognising our commitment to staff and workplace culture.

• The Children’s Air Ambulance completed its first patient transfer, marking a key moment in the development of our national paediatric transfer service.

• We celebrated WNAA’s 10th anniversary with a special event — ‘Octobash’, bringing together supporters, staff, and volunteers.

• The year saw operational expansion across all three services — WNAA, DLRAA, and the Children’s Air Ambulance.

• G-MEDX was introduced as the new aircraft for DLRAA, while G-HEMZ began modification work to support the Children’s Air Ambulance.

• We launched our official eBay charity shop, giving supporters a new way to donate and shop online in support of our mission.

• The Children’s Air Ambulance (TCAA) reached a significant milestone with its 100th patient transfer and successfully completed its first teenage transfer, expanding the range of patients it could support.

• The service held its first awareness event at the residence of Lord Fink, helping to introduce TCAA’s national mission to a wider audience.

• G-TAAS entered active service as a new aircraft for DLRAA, further enhancing our lifesaving capabilities across the region.

• September saw the launch of the first-ever Air Ambulance Week appeal, shining a national spotlight on the lifesaving work of air ambulance charities across the UK.

• The Children’s Air Ambulance went live on-screen with its first TV advert, expanding public awareness of its vital role in paediatric care.

• We published ‘Flying to Save Young Lives’, a research paper examining the future needs of paediatric and neonatal emergency transfers by air.

• WATCH (Wales & West Acute Transport for Children) became the seventh clinical partner for the Children’s Air Ambulance, extending our national reach.

• We introduced our night car service, enabling clinical HEMS teams to run missions until 2:00 AM, initially operating two nights per week — helping us reach more people in need, after dark.

• A full rebrand unified our identity across WNAA, DLRAA, and the Children’s Air Ambulance, reinforcing our position as one service with three powerful missions.

• We moved into a new head office in Rugby, supporting the growth and coordination of our national and regional services.

• The Children’s Air Ambulance signed the official contract for two new helicopters, laying the groundwork for future expansion.

• We completed our first neonatal transfer in partnership with NEST (North East & North Cumbria Transport Service) — one of two new neonatal clinical partners, alongside SONeT (Southampton Oxford Neonatal Transport), bringing our total to nine specialist teams.

• Our night car service expanded to 7 days a week, ensuring critical care cover into the early hours, every night.

• Two new Rapid Response Vehicles entered service, strengthening our ground-based emergency response.

• Our recycling team won the Community Impact Award at the Charity Retail Awards, recognising their contribution to income and sustainability.

• We launched in-house kerbside textile collections across Leicestershire, creating new fundraising opportunities.

• The ‘Mission for a Mission’ volunteer campaign brought national attention, with MPs visiting local shops to show support for our volunteer teams.

• In 2017, the Children’s Air Ambulance made significant strides in service delivery and operational excellence. The service was extended to operate seven days a week, ensuring critically ill children could be transferred swiftly and safely whenever needed.
• Our trading arm proudly achieved ISO accreditation, demonstrating our commitment to quality, transparency, and continuous improvement across all areas of the organisation.

• 2018 was a landmark year for our organisation. We celebrated the 15th birthday of the Warwickshire & Northamptonshire Air Ambulance (WNAA) and the 10th birthday of the Derbyshire, Leicestershire & Rutland Air Ambulance (DLRAA) with a special event at the Palace of Westminster, honouring years of lifesaving service.
• We launched a data wiping service in partnership with Blancco, enhancing our commitment to secure and sustainable operations.
• A Care Quality Commission (CQC) inspection of all three TAAS services praised our organisation and the high standard of clinical care provided to patients.
• In partnership with the National Forest, we began selling trees ahead of our first memorial tree planting in November, offering a meaningful way for supporters to honour loved ones.
• The Children’s Air Ambulance saw major expansion with the official handover of two new helicopters—AgustaWestland 169 G-TCAA and G-PICU—which began service in September. We also opened two new airbases in Doncaster and Oxford, increasing our national reach.
• A key operational milestone was achieved with our first dual mission, showcasing the enhanced capabilities of our expanded fleet and team.

• This period marked a transformative step in our retail and community engagement strategy. We proudly opened our first charity superstore, The Hanger, in Alfreton, Derbyshire, offering a modern, spacious shopping experience that supports our life-saving missions.
• We also launched #TheCrew, a dedicated children’s fundraising club, inspiring young supporters to get involved and make a difference through fun and educational activities.
• Our innovation was recognised nationally when we won the Innovation & Technology in Charity Retailing Award at the Charity Retail Awards, celebrating our forward-thinking approach.
• In support of sustainability, we began in-house clothes and plastic bag recycling, reducing waste and promoting eco-conscious practices across our operations.
• To further support the Children’s Air Ambulance, we introduced the first toy collection bank, giving families a new way to donate and support our cause.

• We proudly reached 40,000 missions across our Warwickshire, Northamptonshire, Derbyshire, Leicestershire, and Rutland services—an incredible testament to our teams and supporters.
• The Children’s Air Ambulance introduced ECMO and nitric oxide equipment on board, enhancing our ability to deliver advanced neonatal and paediatric care during transfers.
• We launched our online store, offering new goods and branded merchandise to help raise vital funds and connect with supporters in new ways.
• Operational excellence was recognised with the achievement of ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 certifications, reinforcing our commitment to quality management and environmental responsibility.
• To inspire and educate younger audiences, we published our first children’s book, Motorways in the Sky, sharing the story of our helicopters and the heroes behind the missions.

• 2021 was a year of transformation and connection. We proudly launched our brand-new HEMS aircraft, enhancing our emergency response capabilities and reaffirming our commitment to saving lives.
• Our children’s fundraising club, #TheCrew, grew to over 1,000 members, reflecting the incredible enthusiasm and support from young fundraisers across the UK.
• Retail operations expanded with the opening of two more The Hanger superstores, helping generate vital funds and increase community engagement.
• The Children’s Air Ambulance celebrated its 11th Critical Care Team (CPT) partnership with KIDS, strengthening our ability to deliver specialist care during transfers.
• We launched our In Memory Tribute website, offering families a heartfelt way to honour loved ones while supporting our mission.
• Operationally, we marked our 500th patient transfer for the Children’s Air Ambulance and celebrated the 200th mission milestone with Embrace, showcasing the growing impact of our national service.

• 2022 was a year of innovation and outreach. We proudly launched our new Children’s Air Ambulance aircraft, G-PICU, at our Oxford airbase, enhancing our national paediatric transfer capabilities.
• Our HEMS teams introduced the Blood on Board programme, ensuring patients have access to life-saving transfusions during emergency missions.
• We welcomed Professor Bob Allison as our new Chair, bringing fresh leadership and vision to the organisation.
• As part of the Platinum Jubilee celebrations, our incredible TAAS volunteers were honoured for their dedication and service.
• We strengthened community ties by partnering with Doncaster Pride, promoting inclusivity and support for all.
• In a powerful collaboration, TAAS teamed up with local police to help tackle knife crime, raising awareness and supporting prevention efforts.
• Our HEMS crews took on a 45-mile base-to-base run to raise funds and awareness for our cause, demonstrating their commitment both in the air and on the ground.
• The Children’s Air Ambulance also launched the Bristol Fashion Show, blending style and fundraising to support our life-saving missions.

2023 was a year of reflection and celebration. We reached a remarkable milestone of 50,000 missions across our Warwickshire, Northamptonshire, Derbyshire, Leicestershire, and Rutland services—an achievement made possible by the unwavering support of our teams and communities.

We proudly celebrated the anniversaries of all our lifesaving services:

• WNAA – 20 years of saving lives
• DLRAA – 15 years of dedicated service
• TCAA – 10 years of specialist paediatric and neonatal transfers

These anniversaries not only mark the passage of time but also highlight the thousands of lives touched, families supported, and communities strengthened through our work.

• The Children’s Air Ambulance (TCAA) reached its 1,000th mission milestone in July, transferring a neonatal patient in just 33 minutes—cutting a two-hour road journey by more than half
  • . This achievement reflects over a decade of dedication to paediatric and neonatal care, powered by partnerships with 11 NHS Clinical Partner Teams and pioneering in-flight capabilities like ECMO and nitric oxide therapy.
• Across our regional services—WNAA and DLRAA—we responded to a combined 3,779 potentially lifesaving missions
  • . Despite economic challenges, our teams remained committed to delivering urgent pre-hospital care via helicopters and critical care cars. Medical emergencies made up 36% of missions, followed by mental health-related incidents, road traffic collisions, and falls.
• We also celebrated:
  • The first-ever all-female crew on a mission, showcasing the diversity and talent within our teams .
  • An Outstanding rating from the Care Quality Commission (CQC) for WNAA .
  • Recognition for our Blood on Board programme at the East Midlands Trauma Conference .
  • The launch of Surgical Skills Training Days and multiple awards nominations at the AAUK Conference .

These milestones reflect our unwavering commitment to innovation, excellence, and compassion. Every mission is made possible by the generosity of our supporters—thank you for helping us save lives every day.