Air Ambulance Week aims to boost UK donations
The UK's Air Ambulance Week took place earlier this month.
The UK’s fund raising Air Ambulance Week 2025 started on Monday, September 8th, and runs until Sunday September 14th September, with charities delivering the message: “Every Mission Starts With You.”
The week is organised by Air Ambulances UK, the national charity supporting the UK’s 21 air ambulance charities, is dedicated to raising awareness and funds for the lifesaving pre-hospital care delivered daily by air crews.
Air ambulance charities collectively respond to over 48,000 missions each year, that is around 138 every single day bringing the urgent care to the patient at the scene of the most serious incidents. These missions are funded almost entirely by public donations.
From treating people involved in major road traffic collisions to attending life-threatening cardiac arrests, falls, and medical emergencies in remote locations, the charities form a vital part of the UK’s frontline emergency services, working in partnership with the National Health Service but they receive no day-to-day funding from government.
Lindsay Boswell, CEO of Air Ambulances UK, said: “Every mission starts with someone choosing to support their local air ambulance charity – and that someone could be you. Whether you’re making a donation, organising a fundraiser or simply telling others about the work air ambulance charities do, your actions help save lives. Air Ambulance Week is the perfect time to get involved and be part of something truly lifesaving.”
UK Prime Minister, Keir Starmer said: “With crews dispatched to an average of 134 missions daily, delivering hospital-level care at the scene of serious incidents … these services are a lifeline for thousands across the country.”
The average mission costs around £4,165, which is funded almost entirely by donations. There are currently 38 air ambulance helicopters in the UK, operated by 21 regional air ambulance charities, many of which also operate critical care cars. This coverage allows swift responses to any critical incident, anywhere in the UK.
The London Air Ambulance operates two Airbus H135s, these were ordered during the Farnborough Air Show 2022 and started service in October 2024.
