£300,000 to help build new helipad in North Yorkshire
Yorkshire Air Ambulance say it takes them a big step closer to target
£300,000 has been donated to Yorkshire Air Ambulance to help build a new helipad in in Skipton-on-Swale.
It is from the HELP Appeal, the only charity in the country dedicated to funding NHS hospital helipads.
The contribution is part of the £415,000 required to construct the helipad, which will ensure YAA’s helicopters can take off and land directly from the new base, enabling the charity's critical care team to respond swiftly to emergencies across the region.
The helipad will form a vital part of YAA’s new Northern Air Base, a purpose-built, fully owned facility located just 3.5 miles from the charity’s current base at RAF Topcliffe. With planning permission now secured, construction of the new base is set to begin soon. Once completed, the facility will provide long-term security and improved infrastructure, including state-of-the-art training environments, dedicated crew accommodation, and enhanced wellbeing facilities. Crucially, the new base will ensure that YAA can continue to reach any part of Yorkshire within 20 minutes, maintaining its ability to deliver lifesaving care across the region.
Robert Bertram, Chief Executive, HELP Appeal, said, “We are proud to donate £300,000 towards the construction of a new helipad at Yorkshire Air Ambulance’s new base. This funding is a direct investment in the lifesaving work carried out every day by the Yorkshire Air Ambulance team. By supporting the construction of this helipad, we’re helping to ensure they can continue responding swiftly and effectively to emergencies across the region. This donation has only been made possible thanks to the incredible generosity of our HELP Appeal supporters, whose commitment to enhancing emergency care makes projects like this possible.”
Steve Waudby, Director of Aviation at Yorkshire Air Ambulance, said, “We are incredibly grateful to the HELP Appeal for their outstanding generosity. Having a purpose-built helipad at our new base is crucial to the efficiency of our operations. It will enable our crews to mobilise quickly, ensuring that we are always ready to respond to emergencies across Yorkshire. This donation takes us one step closer to achieving our vision for a world-class facility that will serve the region for decades to come.”