Barcud Group’s Director of People and Insights will be jumping out of a plane soon, to help raise funds for the housing association’s charity of the year – Wales Air Ambulance!
On Sunday, 27 September, Deina Hockenhull, will be taking to the skies over Gower to do her first ever skydive, which was a special gift from her three sons for her recent 50th birthday.
Deina said: “I thought it would be the perfect opportunity to raise funds for Barcud’s charity for this year, the Wales Air Ambulance.
“If you see me looking a little nervous any time between now and the skydive it’s because I’ve never done anything like this before!
“I’d be grateful for any donations made towards this vital charity. Living in a very rural area of Ceredigion I know first-hand how important it is to maintain this service.”
Deina joined Barcud in 2024 and in her role as Group Director of People and Insights she is helping to develop an insight-driven strategy to strengthen tenant engagement and service delivery. A fluent Welsh speaker born and raised in Ceredigion, she understands the Barcud area well and is actively involved in local volunteering and community groups.
Barcud is based in mid and west Wales with a 300 strong workforce and 4,500 tenants. This is the group’s first year of fundraising for a specific charity and at the annual colleague conference last winter the majority were in favour of supporting a charity, that, like Barcud, helped and supported those living rurally.
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 £13 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.
This advanced critical care includes the ability to administer anaesthesia, deliver blood transfusions and conduct minor operations, all at the scene of an incident.
As a pan-Wales service, its dedicated crews, regardless of where they are based, will travel the length and breadth of the country to deliver emergency lifesaving care.
Any donations to support Deina, and Barcud reach its fundraising target of £5,000 would be very gratefully received. https://www.justgiving.com/page/deina-hockenhull-1
Emma Grant, Public Affairs Lead for Wales Air Ambulance said, “Wales Air Ambulance is funded by the people of Wales; we rely entirely on the public’s support to help keep the helicopters flying and the rapid response vehicles on the road.
“Every penny of the £13 million needed every year is raised through charitable donations, fundraising events, legacies, our shops, and membership of our in-house Lifesaving Lottery.
“We are grateful to Deina and the Barcud group for choosing to support us – you are all lifesavers.”
