The North West Air Ambulance Charity (NWAA) has launched an emergency appeal to keep its lifesaving service funded.
The North West Air Ambulance (NWAA) service is said to attend around 2,500 missions to provide help to eight million people each year, with its world-class care becoming increasingly more specialised over the last two decades it has been flying.
But despite still providing this advanced pre-hospital care to patients in need right across the region and continuing to support the NHS on the frontline throughout the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, it has lost an estimated £71,000 in revenue each month since the first national lockdown.
This loss is said to equal 20% of the charity’s income in the past year alone.
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The ongoing pandemic has had a severe impact on the organisation, with store closures, cancelled fundraisers and postponed events all contributing to a dramatic dip in funds.
The service – which flies three helicopters in the region, and is entirely dependent on public and corporate donations – now says it needs more than £9.5 million a year to continue, which is why it has launched an urgent appeal for funding.
We’ve launched an #emergencyappeal to raise funds to keep us flying to save lives across the North West.
— North West Air Ambulance Charity ? (@NWAirAmbulance) February 2, 2021
The appeal for funding is to ensure the life-saving fleet never needs to be grounded in the future.
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Sarah Naismith – Director of Income and Engagement at NWAA Charity – has urged anyone in a position to donate to do consider doing so.
She has insisted that any donations received would allow the charity to continue its crucial work.
Speaking on the importance of the appeal, Sarah said: “COVID-19 has disrupted everyone’s lives, it’s threatened to grind down our friends in the NHS, and it’s placed financial and operational strain on our charity.
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“The crew have continued their lifesaving work every day, supporting the NHS and working side by side with the ambulance service, however, the disruption to our fundraising revenues is significant and we don’t take sharing this news lightly”.
“I know we saved that child that day.”
With no government or NHS funding, it’s your donations that ensure we can continue flying to save lives. Make a difference today, donate now ? https://t.co/5HgoZyz90A
— North West Air Ambulance Charity ? (@NWAirAmbulance) February 25, 2021
She continued: “Without funding, we may not be able to continue to make a critical difference to patients.
“For 21 years, we have always been blown away by the generosity of our supporters, and we wouldn’t be here without them, so with our work at greater risk than ever before, any donations will allow us to continue to reach and treat patients in need, and give them the best chance of survival.
“Help us help people across the North West.”
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If you would like to make “a life-saving donation” to The North West Air Ambulance (NWAA), then you can simply text HELPNWAA5 to 70085 to donate £5, or you can visit the NWAA website.
More information on the services provided and the support needed can also be found here.
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People are literally travelling across the country to work out at this absolutely massive gym
Daisy Jackson
The UK’s largest 24/7 gym is here in the north west of England – and it’s so remarkable, people are genuinely travelling across the country to visit it.
Dedicated Supergym also claims to have the longest dumbbell rack in the world, with weights ranging from 3kg to 150kg, going up in 1kg increments.
Although it’s been open for a few years already, the massive fitness facility keeps going viral on TikTok.
Credit: Facebook, Dedicated Supergym
Fitness influencers and weightlifting enthusiasts alike have been flocking to the north west to visit its two sites – one in Liverpool and one on The Wirral – where there are rows upon rows of squat racks, machines and free weights.
In one video, fitness influencer couple Gregor and Hattie described it as ‘heaven’, adding: “This place is unreal.”
“I won’t even lie, I’m so happy to give this gym like a 10 out of 10. This is the exact type of gym that I’ve always wanted to train at.”
As well as its insane selection of weights and machines, Dedicated Supergym has plenty of cardio equipment too, including assault bikes, stair masters, treadmills, rowers, ski ergs and cross trainers.
Featured image: Facebook, Dedicated Supergym
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Greater Manchester to get 2,000 small wind turbines that provide more ‘affordable energy’
Emily Sergeant
An ambitious new project will see thousands of small wind turbines installed across Greater Manchester to provide “more affordable energy”.
Set to be delivered by a partnership of Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA), the Energy Innovation Agency, and the Manchester Inward Investment Agency, and alongside renewable energy manufacturers Alpha 311, Greater Manchester could soon become home to 2,000 wind turbine units as part of the region’s carbon reduction plan.
The wind turbines are powered by the air moved by passing vehicles, and will be put on buildings and lampposts, according to BBC News.
Alpha 311 said the turbines’ size could even see small sites become wind farms.
The manufacturer said the units were smaller and lighter than the type of wind turbines we are used to seeing on hills and in the countryside across the UK, or off-shore turbines, and it means they can be used on roads, bridges, buildings, and towers.
Most-notably, turbines expected to be the same or similar to the ones on their way to Greater Manchester have been installed next to the O2 Arena in London.
Thousands of small wind turbines could be installed across Greater Manchester to provide “more affordable energy” / Credit: Wikimedia Commons
Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham said he was looking forward to seeing the “innovative wind turbines” in action as they could “see us generate more low carbon energy locally”, and crucially, “provide more affordable energy” at a time when people in the region “need it most”.
“The switch to net-zero carbon can, and should, be something that offers a fairer future, as well as a greener one,” Mr Burnham explained.
Mr Burnham said the partnership would also support the creation of 200 new jobs.
The cost of the project has not yet been revealed, but it’s thought they could begin being installed across the region should an initial pilot using the street turbines that’s set to start in Telford later in the year be successful.
The turbines in the pilot trial will be used to power streets lights, and any surplus energy will be sent back to the National Grid.