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Air ambulance praised with volunteering award

Cameron WeldonSouth West
Cornwall Air Ambulance Four Devon Air Ambulance volunteers in matching red charity fleeces and polo shirts stood in arms smiling at the camera. Two are holding the charity's donation buckets. Cornwall Air Ambulance
Cornwall Air Ambulance was awarded the volunteers award for a third successive time

Cornwall Air Ambulance has been praised for its contributions to volunteering.

The charity was awarded the Investing in Volunteers award for a third successive time, with the award highlighting how it values its volunteers and demonstrates its commitment to best practice and meaningful, effective volunteering.

The charity said it had about 300 ground crew volunteers who support it in various roles which include helping at events, in the retail shops, at the airbase, or as part of its jar collecting team.

Jackie Eastwood, volunteer manager, said: "Simply put, we would not be able to provide the service we do without them."

Cornwall Air Ambulance Jackie Eastwood, Cornwall Air Ambulance volunteer manager stood outside looking straight at the camera, wearing a red Air Ambulance coat. She is smiling and holding a framed certificate. Cornwall Air Ambulance
Jackie Eastwood said the charity could not provide its services without its team of about 300 volunteers

The award is the UK quality standard for good practice in volunteer management and is valid for three years.

The charity first won the award in 2017 and will have the accreditation until 2029.

Cornwall Air Ambulance said to receive the award, it needed to complete a "rigorous six-step process that included an assessor meeting with some of their ground crew volunteers and members of the wider team".

It said the final report noted the charity was "particularly mindful of volunteer health, safety and welfare" and when asked what the charity did well, many volunteers referenced inclusivity.

It said volunteers who were interviewed unanimously felt appreciated and valued, and it was evident volunteers felt proud of volunteering for the charity.

'Unsung heroes'

Tim Bunting, Cornwall Air Ambulance Trust's chief executive officer, said volunteers were "the unsung heroes of our charity, giving their time, skills and passion to keep our helicopters in the sky and our crew providing specialist care each and every day".

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