2020 Expand 2020 marked 20 years since Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance was first launched. Our 20th anniversary year saw us provide an air and road-delivered critical care service 19 hours a day, 365 days a year. A national lockdown commenced due to the COVID-19 pandemic. We continued to provide pre-hospital critical care to the region. Our critical care team were operational every single day and night throughout the pandemic. All face-to-face fundraising and events were suspended and we relied on digital/virtual ways to raise funds.
2021 Expand The COVID-19 pandemic continued and provided its challenges. Despite this, we maintained complete reliability of our service and our team continued to work hard on each of our strategic clinical challenges. We provided a critical care service for 19 hours per day, every single day throughout the pandemic. Our clinical team produced a video about how they worked during the COVID-19 pandemic. You can watch it here - dsairambulance.org.uk/operations-throughout-covid-19-video Our team provided a COVID-19 critical care transfer service, to safely move patients from NHS hospitals with too many patients, to NHS hospitals with more bed capacity. After nearly a two-year break, our fantastic Coast to Coast Cycle Challenge returned in September and kicked off Air Ambulance Week. We were shortlisted as a finalist in five categories in the Air Ambulances UK Awards of Excellence. DSAA came out as winners in three categories; Doctor of the Year, Innovation of the Year, Lifetime Achievement Award and we were highly commended in the other two categories.
2022 Expand Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance launched a new initiative called ‘Blossoming and Blooming Open Gardens’, that aimed to bring together local communities, raise awareness and funds. DSAA were crowned winners in the ‘Charity of the Year’ category at the Somerset Business Awards. Bill Sivewright, our longstanding CEO retired and his successor, Charles Hackett, was appointed as our new CEO. Face-to-face fundraising recommenced and was in full swing during the summer event season! Despite the adverse weather conditions, our Coast to Coast Cycle Challenge went ahead and was a huge success raising £42,100. A new campaign called ‘Saving Lives Together’ was launched by SWASFT and supported by South West Air Ambulance charities including DSAA, with the aim of preventing deaths from cardiac arrests. DSAA launched a new fundraising event called The 5K Twilight Shift, a charity run and walk around Henstridge Airfield.
Information for Executors Expand If you are looking to make a payment from a Will, please contact our Administration team on 01823 669604 or email: [email protected] If you make the payment using our online donation form, please get in touch to let us know so we can ensure the gift is properly recorded and acknowledged.
What is Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance Open Gardens? Expand Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance Open Gardens is a joyous fundraiser to bring family, friends and community together while raising funds for their local air ambulance. Open Gardens is open to all and very simple to get involved in. From visiting a local garden to hosting your very own event, there are so many ways to support us! We want everyone to take part, no matter the size of their garden. By hosting an Open Garden, you’ll help to raise awareness for your area’s local air ambulance charity, while enjoying an afternoon out, eating cake and walking around beautiful gardens.
When can I host my Open Garden? Expand Please feel free to host your Open Garden whenever you like! There really is no limitation. Maybe you have seasonal splendours, or rich autumn colours; whatever time of year you wish to host your event, we would be happy to have your support.
Ways to increase funds at your Open Garden Expand What are the best ways to increase the funds I raise at my Open Garden? Ask us for literature and promotional material about our life-saving service, we'd be more than happy to post some out to you Charge an entry fees/on-the-gate donations Serve refreshments Selling plants, cuttings and bulbs Collection tins (request a collection tin) Set up an activity such as guess the number of sweets in the jar or make up your own quiz on helicopters Ask local craftspeople and businesses if they'd like to host a stall at your event For even more ideas and tips register for your Open Garden pack. Register for your pack
How can I promote my Open Garden? Expand So you’ve set the date for your Open Garden and made all your plans, now it’s time to start thinking about who you would like to invite and how to promote it if you’re inviting the public. Word of mouth - this is one of the best ways to spread the news! Make sure you tell everyone you know about your event. Download our poster - you can print this out and put it up in your local area to promote your Open Garden. Download invitations - you can print this out, fill it in and use it to invite friends, family, neighbours and colleagues. Another good idea is to invite groups such as your local gardening club, church group, Women’s Institute or even sporting groups. If you're on social media then that is also a great way to share the news of your Open Garden. Tag us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn using the handle @dsairambulance and use the hashtag #DSAAOpenGardens. Create a Facebook event Log into your Facebook account Click “Events” in the menu on the left of your newsfeed Click “Create event” on the top right. Select either “private” or “public” event Fill in your event details, location and time Click “Create” and your Facebook event will go live Invite your connections as guests, upload photos and share posts to get people excited about it Please include the wording “raising funds in aid of Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance, Registered Charity Number 1078685” and our 'in aid of logo' when promoting your event. Contact [email protected] to request our in aid of logo.
Can Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance help promote my event? Expand We will promote your open garden on our website if you selected yes when asked 'Would you like us to display your event on our website?' on our registration form. It is up to you to promote your event locally, with the support of our resources and if you request we will add your event to our website under our ‘Find a garden’ page. Some places that can help you promote your open garden: Parish news Village noticeboards Shop windows Community noticeboards Local websites and publications Facebook groups such as 'What's On' Cafes and pubs
What spaces can take part? Expand It’s not just private backyard gardens that take part, we are welcoming all spaces to get involved to show their support for their local air ambulance. that can include allotments, school grounds and workplace gardens - just make sure you have all the correct permissions.
Safety, risk assessments, security and insurance Expand Please ensure you take reasonable measures to make your garden safe. Risk Assessment Once you have registered, we will send you a risk assessment that you must read, sign and send back to us. Insurance Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance cannot be held responsible for any accidents or incidents as your fundraising activity is not covered by our insurance. You do not legally need to buy insurance for your open garden but having public liability insurance may give you peace of mind. Security We recommend you keep your house and shed doors locked, keep valuables out of sight, and do not leave your takings unattended. Refreshments Ensure you list allergens on all refreshments and prepare and handle food safely.
Do you already open your garden and want to use it as an opportunity to raise funds for DSAA? Expand If you already open your garden to the public, but would like to donate some of your proceeds to us, please let us know. We could even send you out a collection pot and fundraising materials to help. Get in touch with our fundraising team for details by emailing [email protected]
What should I do about car parking? Expand Please think about the best place for visitors to park and bear in mind all types of weather and disabled visitors. We have a car parking sign available for you to download to make it easy for visitors to find it. It might be worth letting your local authority, neighbours and community know that there may be extra traffic and cars parking in the area.
How do I make my Open Garden as eco-friendly as possible? Expand It's important to us that you make your event as environmentally friendly as possible. We ask that you avoid single-use plastic and anything that ‘leaves a trace’. Source locally, recycle, and encourage lift sharing, walking or cycling where possible when inviting your guests.
How will the money I raise help? Expand The money you raise will help Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance provide pre-hospital critical care for sick and injured people across the two counties. Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance: Provide a Critical Care Service using their helicopter and critical care car for 19 hours a day (7 am – 2 am) every day Provide an Enhanced Care Service using their Outreach cars in Dorset and Somerset for 12 hours a day (10 am – 10 pm) every day Provide rapid transfers to the 'right' facility as well as inter-hospital patient transfers Can transport patients in under 20 minutes to the neatest Major Trauma Centre Provide a patient and family liaison service to support patients who have been treated by our team Actively support injury prevention projects to reduce the number of accidents and deaths within local communities
How can I set up an online page for donations? Expand It's a good idea to give your guests a way to donate online. An online donation page also gives your friends and family a way to support you if they are unable to attend on the day. Set up your own Open Garden fundraising page We can create you your own personalised QR code poster for visitors to donate online. Request your own “donate online” poster
Paying in funds raised Expand After you’ve held your Open Garden event, it’s time to reflect on a fantastic day and your fundraising efforts. Below are a few ways to transfer any funds you may have raised. If you have an online fundraising page then this will come directly to the charity without you having to do anything. Online You can pay any funds raised directly through our website - www.dsairambulance.org.uk/donate/open-gardens-dsaa By cheque Please make your cheque payable to Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance and post it to the address below, along with a note to say you’ve hosted an Open Garden in aid of us and include your name and contact details: Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance HQ, Landacre House, Castle Road, Chelston, Business Park, Wellington, Somerset, TA21 9JQ By cash If you live in the local area then please feel free to swing by our Wellington or Wimborne office with the cash and coins in an envelope, along with a note to say you’ve hosted an Open Garden in aid of us and include your name and contact details. We love meeting the hosts of our Open Gardens! BACS or a bank transfer You can pay money directly into our bank account. Please contact us for details by calling 01823 669 604. Don’t forget to Gift Aid it By gift-aiding your fundraising, we could get 25% more! We can claim an extra 25p for every £1 you give. If you are a UK Tax Payer and would like to Gift Aid your donation, please complete our Gift Aid Declaration.
Why not ask your employer to match your fundraising? Expand Many employers offer a ‘Matched Giving’ scheme. They can either match the amount you raise or a donate set amount. Remind your employer it benefits their local air ambulance and supports their Corporate Social Responsibility goals. If your employer can match the funds you raise, please let us know by emailing [email protected] so that we can identify their donation when it comes in.
William Entwisle Expand Willie joined Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance after a 35-year career in the Royal Navy, where he specialised as a helicopter pilot. He commanded a Lynx helicopter squadron at RNAS Yeovilton in Somerset and the Naval Air Station at Culdrose in Cornwall. A graduate of the University of Exeter and of King’s College London, Willie has spent all his adult life in the West Country, except when at sea or posted elsewhere by the Navy. He sits on the Armed Forces Pay Review Body, is Chair of the South West Rivers Association and has a wide range of interests. Willie is a keen potter, gardener and enjoys chasing a ball around any sort of court as much as his dogs do on a walk. He is married to Issy and lives in Devon.