Lincs & Notts Air Ambulance receives keys to new Headquarters

The Lincs & Notts Air Ambulance (LNAA) has taken possession of its new Headquarters based on A15 Sleaford Road, next to RAF Waddington.

The new purpose-built home, which will see staff, crew, helicopter and Critical Care Cars under one roof for the very first time, will provide a unique opportunity for the charity to welcome former patients, schools, volunteers, donors and fundraisers to see how their support really makes a difference.

The crew and helicopter will move into the new headquarters and airbase this month, and staff hope to join them in their new offices once Government restrictions have been lifted at the end of June.

Chief Executive Officer Karen Jobling received the keys from builders Lindum Construction. She said: “I am absolutely delighted to have received the keys for our new headquarters. Years of planning has gone into our new, future-proof headquarters; our new facility will be fundamental to our success for a rapidly advancing operation.”

“With our day-to-day operations solely funded by donations, we were delighted when we secured a capital funding grant for this new build. It was a real boost and at a time when we needed it and has allowed our dream of a new headquarters to become a reality.

“Our crew and charity staff are looking forward to moving into their new home and we cannot wait to welcome visitors when restrictions allow.”

Llewis Ingamells, Chief Pilot at Lincs & Notts Air Ambulance, said: “We’d like to extend a huge thank you to the HELP Appeal for their very generous donation towards our new bespoke helipad. There is an awful lot of design and technology that goes into a helipad for latest generation helicopter operations like ours, such as specialised reinforced concrete without the use of metals, infrared landing lights for use through night vision goggles & composite radar friendly fencing.

“Their generosity has allowed us to design exactly what we need.”

In 2019, the HELP Appeal donated £69,000 to fund the installation and upgrade of helipad lights at three different landing sites frequently used by the LNAA’s life-saving crew, including Fenland Airfield in South Lincolnshire and Nottingham Airport (Tollerton). To date, the HELP Appeal has donated over £385,000 to LNAA.

The HELP Appeal and Lincs & Notts Air Ambulance rely solely on charitable donations and do not receive any direct government funding or money from the National Lottery for day-to-day operations.

For more information on the HELP APPEAL visit www.helpappeal.org.uk or call 0800 3898 999.

To find out more about the life-saving work of the Lincs & Notts Air Ambulance, visit www.ambucopter.org.uk