BASICS Devon is delighted to announce that it has received a generous grant of £15,388.29 from
the British Association for Immediate Care enabled by via the HELP Appeal- 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 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.
'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,' Robert Horton, Chair of BASICS Devon
said.
BASICS Devon extends its deepest gratitude to BASICS HQ and the HELP Appeal for their
unwavering support and commitment to pre-hospital emergency care. Their generosity 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.
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Notes to editors: ·
Interview Opportunity: Interview available with volunteers on request
Photo attached
About BASICS Devon
BASICS Devon is a network of 20 emergency volunteer medics providing immediate access
to specialist medical care at the scene of an accident or illness. Making themselves available
around the clock throughout the year, responding to incidents at the request of the South
Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust. The charity relies solely on donations.
• BASICS Devon doctors aim to provide a fast response to incidents in rural areas
and use their extensive skills to support patient care.
• For further information, to donate or get involved please visit: www.basics-
devon.org.uk
For further information please contact Amie Bull, Fundraising Manager amie.bull@basics-
devon.org.uk T: 01752 936299 or visit: www.basics-devon.org.uk
About the HELP Appeal
The HELP Appeal aims to significantly increase the number of onsite hospital helipads at
major trauma centres and A&E hospitals through its grant scheme which offers non-
repayable grants to hospitals to help fund new helipads or upgrade existing helipads.
Overall, it has funded 45 50 helipads across the country, including at the Royal Devon and
Exeter Hospital and Derriford Hospital, which have seen over 297,000 landings.
The HELP Appeal relies solely on charitable donations and does not receive any government
funding or money from the National Lottery.
You can follow the HELP Appeal on Twitter: @helipadHELP, Facebook or Linkedin or visit
the website: www.helpappeal.org.uk.
For further information about the HELP Appeal, please contact Corienne Kilgannon,
communications director, on 07470 226063 or by emailing corienne@helpappeal.org.uk
About British Association for Immediate Care (BASICS)
The British Association for Immediate Care is a charitable company limited by guarantee
registered with the Charity Commission and with Companies House.
Members are drawn from a number of the health care professions, particularly medicine,
nursing and paramedicine, as well as others who work or volunteer within pre-hospital care.
The Association provides a focus for those interested in developing their pre-hospital practice
and supports this through its annual conference and a range of internationally recognised
courses.
For Further information visit https://www.basics.org.uk/
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