NatWest Cymru’s Board have visited the Wales Air Ambulance base at Cardiff Heliport, after staff nominated it as the Wales Charity of the Year.
The bank has 600,000 customers across Wales and a dedicated Welsh-speaking call centre in Menai.
Jessica Shipman, Chair for NatWest Cymru Regional Board said: “You cannot put into words what it is like seeing the Wales Air Ambulance helicopter flying in and landing in front of you!
“Our team had the best day, getting to meet the pilot, clinicians, and aftercare team. It was fantastic to talk with past patients and find out what a difference the service has made to them.
“Many of them would not be alive today if it was not for the incredible clinicians swooping in and delivering critical care at their home, at the roadside and in one of our colleague’s cases, a field.”
She continued: “This year is the first time ever that NatWest Cymru has chosen a Charity of the Year, and we wanted to make it a pan-Wales choice.
“So, we put it out to our colleagues across all the Welsh regions to nominate the charities they would like to support. We drew up a shortlist and they were asked to cast a final vote.
“Wales Air Ambulance got the largest share, with almost 60%, which is incredible and so well deserved.”
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.
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.
Jessica said: “It is a special anniversary for the Charity next year! So, we want to do all we can to raise as much as we can.
“We are going to rally through our retail network; there will be lots of activities going on.”
39-year-old Kirstin Jenkins, from Burry Port is the Local Director for North and West Wales branch banking, and Deputy Chair for the NatWest Cymru Regional Board.
She described seeing the helicopter landing at the base as a ‘Top Gun moment.’
Kirstin continued: “Visiting the base has been an incredible experience for all of us. It has put into context what the Charity does and what we need to do to help it.
“Part of our board’s role is to make a difference in local communities.
“We try to understand the challenges there are and see what we can do to influence and impact change.
“One of the key parts is raising money for Charity, so we are delighted to be able to work with the Wales Air Ambulance.”
The mother of two who looks after NatWest’s branch networks in North and West Wales will be sharing key messages with colleagues about the work of the lifesaving service throughout the campaign.
She said: “I knew Wales Air Ambulance had a Charity element, but I did not realise the whole service depends on fundraisers like us to survive, until I started to do more research.
“There is no magic cheque at the end of the year to keep it going, it relies on the kindness of its supporters. So, I plan to keep highlighting that throughout.”
The NatWest Cymru team have already raised £2,500 and Kate Banks, who is the Local Director in South East Wales, said: “One thing about our branches and colleagues is that everyone really gets behind our chosen charities!
“When we hit those heartstrings, we go hard and try to raise as much money as we can.
“Wales Air Ambulance is particularly special, because so many of our staff and their family members have a personal connection with the service.”
43-year-old Kate, who lives in Pontyclun and has worked for NatWest for 25 years added: “It is so important for us to raise awareness about the charities we support and introduce them to our other partnerships.
“NatWest is a sponsor of Team GB and the Paralympics and have a baton relay going across the whole bank network for the next four years.
“It is going to involve Team GB athletes and our colleagues across the whole of the UK, starting in South Penzance. It will then make its way through the South West of England across to Wales on the 11th, 12th, and 13th of June 2025.
“We will be giving Wales Air Ambulance a platform during this event, it will be a good opportunity to introduce the Charity to different people and hopefully help with our fundraising target.”
Phae Jones, Director of Income Generation at Wales Air Ambulance said: “It was wonderful to welcome the NatWest Cymru Regional Board to our Cardiff Heliport.
“I know our clinical team and past patients thoroughly enjoyed meeting everyone and they got to hear extraordinary stories of survival thanks to our lifesaving service.
“We are hugely grateful to all those who nominated our Charity and look forward to working together over the next few months.
“Fundraising partnerships like this are so important and ensure that our team are able to continue to help patients, wherever and whenever they need us.”
Abi Pearce, Corporate Partnerships Manager for Wales Air Ambulance, said: “It was a real pleasure to meet the Regional Board and hear first-hand about their passion for supporting communities across Wales.
“The friendly sense of competition between branches is fantastic to see, it’s clearly driving creativity, energy and a real determination to make a difference.
“As a service that relies entirely on public donations, corporate partnerships like this are vital. They don’t just raise funds, they help raise awareness, connect us with new communities and create lasting impact through shared values and teamwork.
“I’m really looking forward to working together to help them reach their ambitious fundraising target and make a lasting impact.”
