BASICS Devon has received a grant of £15,388.29 from the British Association for Immediate Care via the County Air Ambulance HELP Appeal – the only charity in the country dedicated to funding NHS hospital helipads. This vital funding will support the charity’s ongoing mission to enhance pre-hospital emergency care, expand its volunteer network, and empower communities with life-saving skills.
BASICS Devon is a thriving organisation dedicated to responding to medical and trauma emergencies and delivering essential health education. The charity’s 20 active responders, alongside non-responding members, provide specialist care across the region, significantly improving outcomes for patients in urgent need.
This grant will enable BASICS Devon to equip additional volunteers with specialist medical equipment and provide essential training resources in their communities, ensuring that those in remote and hard-to-reach areas receive timely emergency care and learn lifesaving skills. With demand for its voluntary service increasing, the organisation has been working on a five-year strategy to expand its volunteer network and ensure that patients in rural areas wait no longer than 30 minutes for a medical response.
In 2024, BASICS Devon volunteers attended 371 callouts,105 at night. Arriving first on scene at 35%, providing immediate, high-quality care before an ambulance arrives. So far this year they have responded to 36 incidents.
Robert Bertram, Chief Executive of HELP Appeal says:
“While we are primarily known for our funding of hospital helipads, our commitment to improving emergency care extends far beyond that. We are dedicated to enhancing emergency response in a variety of ways—whether it’s funding essential medical equipment or vital team training. Our goal is to ensure that help reaches those in need, no matter where they are.”
In addition to supporting volunteers, the funding will be used to purchase CPR mannequins and training equipment. This initiative will equip more people with the knowledge and confidence to act in emergencies, ultimately saving more lives.
Robert Horton, Chair of BASICS Devon said:
“We believe that pre-hospital care should be accessible to all, and this funding allows us to train more people in vital life-saving skills, such as CPR and defibrillation. These resources will be instrumental in helping us reach both urban and rural communities, ensuring that no one is left without the chance of survival in a medical emergency,”
BASICS Devon has extended its deepest gratitude to BASICS HQ and the HELP Appeal for their unwavering support and commitment to pre-hospital emergency care. This donation will have a profound impact, not only on the volunteers who respond to emergencies but also on the countless lives saved through improved response times and enhanced community training.
