Amazon and Barclays have joined forces to help raise funds for the Wales Air Ambulance Charity.
The team at Amazon’s Fullfilment Centre in Swansea Bay made a £1,000 donation, which the banking giant Barclays match-funded, to coincide with Air Ambulance Week last September.
42-year-old Darrell George is the General Manager’s Assistant at Amazon and is also a Community Ambassador for the company. He said: “Wales Air Ambulance is such an essential service and so important to the people of Wales.
“We have supported the Charity over several years. We asked our team who they would like to benefit from our grant scheme. A donation is then made as a show of appreciation for the incredible work done by the clinicians and pilots.”
Darrell added: “It was fantastic to have the opportunity to team up with Barclays, who kindly agreed to match-fund our £1,000 donation.
“We enjoyed having branch members and the air ambulance team join us at our fulfilment centre for a fundraising raffle too.”
The Wales Air Ambulance is consultant-led, taking hospital-standard treatments to the patient and if required, transferring them directly to the most appropriate hospital for their illness or injury.
It is delivered via a unique third sector and public Sector partnership. The Wales Air Ambulance Charity relies on public donations to raise the £11.2 million required every year to keep the helicopters in the air and rapid response vehicles on the road. The Emergency Medical Retrieval and Transfer Service (EMRTS) supplies highly skilled NHS consultants and critical care practitioners who work on board the Charity’s vehicles.
As a pan-Wales service, Wales Air Ambulance’s dedicated crews, regardless of where they are based, will travel the length and breadth of the country to deliver emergency lifesaving care.
Ellie Poffley, Barclays Local Specialist in the Llanelli branch, said: “A lot of our colleagues probably would not have family members with them today if it were not for the air ambulance.
“The work they do means an awful lot to several of our team members and the service actually has a base in my patch.
“When we met members of the fundraising team and heard about the work of the air ambulance, we just knew straight away that we wanted to do something for the Charity.”
The work done by the service is “incredible”, says Barclays Customer Care Leader, Hazel Evans.
Wales Air Ambulance attended her father in 2022 at his home. 51-year-old Hazel said: “The team were incredibly kind to my father whilst he was receiving treatment at the scene. I’ll never forget the care they gave him.
“The road ambulance initially arrived, then the air ambulance clinicians. They spent an hour trying to bring him back.”
She continued: “Sadly my father passed away, but for us as a family, we knew they couldn’t have done any more. The compassion we were shown that day will stay with me forever.
“Yes, it was a horrific experience, but it was made far better by the way the air ambulance dealt with us and looked after my dad and looked after us as a family.”
Hazel added: “That is why 100% I will support the Wales Air Ambulance all the way and do all I can to help raise funds.”
21-year-old Ellie said: “It’s been really exciting working in partnership with a large corporate company such as Amazon, to support such an incredible cause.
“Both of our organisations understand the importance of the service and respect how it serves the people of Wales.”
She added: “It was wonderful to go to Amazon’s base and run a raffle with their colleagues.
“Our team at Barclays Swansea branch also wanted to get involved. So, after the raffle event, they organised a cake sale with our customers and colleagues.
“They raised £150 on the day, which also got match-funded by one of our amazing colleagues and took the total to £300.”
Both teams raised £2,300 and topped off their fundraising with a visit to the Dafen airbase where they met with clinicians and the pilot.
Darrell said: “We were all excited about coming to the base to see the helicopter and meet the crew.
“I couldn’t believe how small the cockpit is. It’s so snug in there and they’ve got to fit in so much equipment.
“They travel the length and breadth of Wales and must conduct procedures in the most demanding situation. You cannot help but be in awe, it’s a phenomenal service.”
The Charity’s Regional Fundraising Manager, Christian Sullivan, said: “We want to extend a huge thank you to both Amazon and Barclays in Swansea Bay for their incredible support.
“It was wonderful to welcome both teams to our Dafen base so they could meet the clinicians and pilot and learn more about the work we do.
“We are so grateful to the staff and customers who donated so generously. Fundraisers like this are incredibly important and help us raise the money we need to run our lifesaving service.
“It is lovely to start 2025 knowing that we will be working together in the coming months to help raise further funds.”
