HELP Appeal donates £300,000 towards new helipad for Yorkshire Air Ambulance

The HELP Appeal has pledged £300,000 to support the development of a new helipad at Yorkshire Air Ambulance’s (YAA) upcoming Northern Air Base in Skipton-on-Swale in the north of England. The substantial contribution forms part of the £415,000 needed to build the helipad, which will enable YAA helicopters to operate directly from the new facility and improve emergency response times across the region.

The donation was formally presented during a visit to YAA’s existing base at the Nostell Air Support Unit. Robert Bertram, Chief Executive of the HELP Appeal, and Trustee Arthur Vestey handed over the cheque to YAA’s senior team, including Director of Aviation Steve Waudby, Medical Director Dr Stuart Reid, and Operations Director Neale Jacobs.

The new helipad will be a critical component of the purpose-built Northern Air Base, which is located just 3.5 miles from YAA’s current home at RAF Topcliffe. With planning approval secured, construction is expected to commence soon. The new base promises enhanced infrastructure, including state-of-the-art training facilities, improved accommodation for crew, and upgraded wellbeing areas. Importantly, the facility will help YAA maintain its target of reaching any part of Yorkshire within 20 minutes.

“We are proud to donate £300,000 towards the construction of a new helipad at Yorkshire Air Ambulance’s new base,” said Bertram. “This funding is a direct investment in the lifesaving work carried out every day by the Yorkshire Air Ambulance team.”

Waudby added: “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.”

The HELP Appeal is the UK’s only charity dedicated to funding hospital and airbase helipads. It has so far supported more than 55 helipad projects nationwide, including at five Yorkshire hospitals. The new Skipton-on-Swale helipad will become the 13th air ambulance base funded by the charity, underlining its commitment to enhancing emergency care infrastructure across the UK.

Maidstone Hospital’s helipad recently reopened following a significant upgrade to meet the latest UK standards for emergency landing sites.