The North West Air Ambulance Charity (NWAA) has raised its fundraising target by £6m yearly to expand its lifesaving service. The funding requirement for the North-West-based charity is now £18 million annually and is in place to cover the financial year 2024/2025.
The 50% increase is crucial to ensure the continued provision of their lifesaving service across the North West, including night-time operations seven days a week and helicopter upgrades. The new funding requirement is reflective of the charity’s commitment to maximising the impact the team has on patients.
Dave Briggs, Operations Director at NWAA said: “Our new target is going to be difficult to achieve but it is vitally important for the charity’s future. Over the last 12 months, we’ve spent nearly £300,000 on fuel alone for our two helicopters based in Manchester. Raising the extra funding is essential to deliver our exceptional lifesaving work, without it people wouldn’t get the treatment they need and the very best opportunity at a second chance.”
Some of the improvements to the charity’s operations include plans to expand the blood-on-board service across all helicopters and cars as well as increasing the ‘night-car’ service from two to seven nights a week.
