Sherborne Classic and Supercars Show awards generous grant to vital children’s charity

The lifesaving Children’s Air Ambulance (TCAA) has received a generous £5,000 grant from the Sherborne Classic and Supercars Show to help keep the charity flying vital transfer missions across the UK.

The show took place on 17 July with over 2,000 spectacular cars on show, trade stands, catering, and entertainment for the whole family to enjoy – purely to raise money for numerous charities across the southwest of the UK.

Charities can apply for a grant from the Sherborne Car Show and the Children’s Air Ambulance was one of 30 worthy charities hoping to receive a grant. Only 13 out of the 30 charities that applied would be awarded a grant to support them.

The grants were put in place to be able to provide benefits for deserving charities located in and near the Sherborne area.

The Children’s Air Ambulance was awarded an amazing £5,000 grant from the Trustees of Sherborne Classic Cars CIO, which will fund more lifesaving missions for critically ill babies and children across the UK.

Sherborne Classic Cars CIO, Andrew Davies said: “We are delighted to be able to support The Children’s Air Ambulance, as the essential help they provide to poorly children with highly specialist equipment and expert paediatric practitioners gives them the best chance of survival. Whilst this is a national service, we know they operate in our area, and having the support of local businesses and communities is paramount for them to continue their vital missions.”

The Children’s Air Ambulance is a national service, changing the face of paediatric and neonatal care through the high-speed transfer of critically ill babies and children – flying them from one hospital to another for specialist care via the clinically designed helicopters which provide a flying intensive care unit for babies and children.

The charity works with 11 NHS Clinical Partner Teams across the UK including Bristol’s Newborn Emergency Stabilisation and Transfer (NEST), and Wales and West Acute Transport for Children Service (WATCh), and the support from the local communities is vital for them to remain operational.

“On behalf of the charity, I would like to thank Sherborne Car Show for their generous grant. We are honoured to have been one of the chosen charities, meaning we can continue to spread awareness of the vital service we offer across the UK,” explained Fiona Franklin, TCAA Community Fundraising Executive.

“Each potentially lifesaving mission costs £3,500, and the support from our local communities and businesses is paramount as we receive no government funding and rely solely on donations. This grant will go towards keeping the Children’s Air Ambulance flying and the specialist equipment needed for our transfer missions,” she added.

The charity is celebrating its 10th anniversary of lifesaving high-speed transfers in 2023, so to find out more and how you can support the charity, visit www.childrensairambulance.org.uk or call 0300 3045 999.