Wiltshire Air Ambulance fundraising aims high (From Swindon Advertiser)

Wiltshire Air Ambulance fundraising aims high

10:50am Tuesday 9th October 2012 in News

TRUSTEES of the Wiltshire Air Ambulance Charitable Trust say they are confident they will be able to increase fundraising to £2m a year.

The trust, which was formed a year ago, pays 35 per cent towards the shared helicopter between the Wiltshire Police and the air ambulance, amounting to £700,000 a year. By 2015, though, the trust may have to find £2m a year with the police likely to have to share helicopters to save money.

Speaking at the charity’s first annual general meeting at Devizes Town Hall, chairman Richard Youens said the trustees were not daunted by this prospect.

“We believe the charity is extremely popular in Wiltshire and we have every confidence we will get the support we need to continue flying beyond 2015,” he said.

The AGM, attended by more than 60 people, was told that since the new charity was formed last October it had raised £1.3m, an increase on its predecessor the Wiltshire Air Ambulance Appeal.

Trustee Sanjeen Payne-Kumar said the charity had been strict on costs and next year had a target to raise £1.6m.

During the AGM a cheque for £1,750 was presented to the charity by representatives of Royal Wootton Bassett Rotary Club.