Our Fundraising
Bridport Folk Festival (2017) was a resounding success in so many ways. With three days of music, dance, workshops and much more, the town of Bridport came alive thanks to the dedicated work of a small number of supporters, not all of whom are, or should we say 'were' folk enthusiasts. With a compliment of 71 music acts and 24 dance sides, it drew huge crowds who clearly enjoyed the event.
The Bridport Folk Festival was the dream of a few local folk musicians, in as much, was to provide a meaningful festival that encompassed all things folk and at the same time benefit a chosen charity. Our first year (2017) saw us raise a sum in excess of £3000 for the RNLI.
On the growing army of volunteers, we have decided that 2018 should see a change in beneficiary and therefore chose the Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance as such.
The Bridport Folk Festival was the dream of a few local folk musicians, in as much, was to provide a meaningful festival that encompassed all things folk and at the same time benefit a chosen charity. Our first year (2017) saw us raise a sum in excess of £3000 for the RNLI.
On the growing army of volunteers, we have decided that 2018 should see a change in beneficiary and therefore chose the Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance as such.
Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance - DSAA
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About DSAA
Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance is a registered charity, established to provide relief from sickness and injury for the people of Dorset and Somerset, by the provision of an air ambulance. We receive no direct funding from the Government or the National Lottery and rely on the generosity of the public for support. Our operational costs are over £2.5 million a year and the approximate cost per mission is £3,000. |
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Operations
Since our launch in 2000 we have flown thousands of missions. We are tasked as part of the normal ‘999’ emergency process by a dedicated Helicopter Emergency Medical Service (HEMS) desk located at Ambulance Control (paid for by the South West Air Ambulance Charities) and can attend up to eight or nine incidents in a single day during the summer months.
Our airbase is situated at Henstridge Airfield on the Dorset/Somerset border. From there, we can be at any point in the two counties in less than 20 minutes. More importantly, the helicopter can, if required, then take a patient to the nearest Major Trauma Centre in the South West within a further 20 minutes.
Providing Critical Care
Our cohort of clinicians include a mixture of Senior Emergency Physicians, Intensive Care Consultants and Anaesthetists, Specialist Paramedics (Critical Care) and a small number of Paramedics and a Nurse who are working towards the ‘Specialist’ qualification. All form part of the air operations crew and as part of their role assist the pilot with navigation and operation of some of the aircraft systems. We aim to provide a Critical Care Team, consisting of at least a Doctor and Specialist Paramedic, for each mission. The doctors are drawn from NHS Hospital Trusts across the region and the paramedics are from the South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust (SWASfT).
Pilots
Our pilots are provided by Specialist Aviation Services Ltd, who operate our aircraft. They are carefully selected because air ambulance flights are typically more challenging than regular non-emergency flight services. They will have a great deal of experience in low-level operations and instrument flying.
Since our launch in 2000 we have flown thousands of missions. We are tasked as part of the normal ‘999’ emergency process by a dedicated Helicopter Emergency Medical Service (HEMS) desk located at Ambulance Control (paid for by the South West Air Ambulance Charities) and can attend up to eight or nine incidents in a single day during the summer months.
Our airbase is situated at Henstridge Airfield on the Dorset/Somerset border. From there, we can be at any point in the two counties in less than 20 minutes. More importantly, the helicopter can, if required, then take a patient to the nearest Major Trauma Centre in the South West within a further 20 minutes.
Providing Critical Care
Our cohort of clinicians include a mixture of Senior Emergency Physicians, Intensive Care Consultants and Anaesthetists, Specialist Paramedics (Critical Care) and a small number of Paramedics and a Nurse who are working towards the ‘Specialist’ qualification. All form part of the air operations crew and as part of their role assist the pilot with navigation and operation of some of the aircraft systems. We aim to provide a Critical Care Team, consisting of at least a Doctor and Specialist Paramedic, for each mission. The doctors are drawn from NHS Hospital Trusts across the region and the paramedics are from the South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust (SWASfT).
Pilots
Our pilots are provided by Specialist Aviation Services Ltd, who operate our aircraft. They are carefully selected because air ambulance flights are typically more challenging than regular non-emergency flight services. They will have a great deal of experience in low-level operations and instrument flying.
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Operational Hours
We operate 19 hours a day (07.00am – 02.00am) using two vital resources which include our AW169 helicopter and Critical Care Car. Code of Conduct Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance is committed to maintaining the highest standards of fundraising behaviour and adhere to the standards set by the Fundraising Regulator. We are also a member of the Association of Air Ambulances (AAA). www.dsairambulance.org.uk |
If you would like to help us help this amazing charity then please see our Volunteering page and get involved in 2018.
