A christmas and new year message from the chairman
It is at this time of the year when I can reflect on the support that the charity has received from ambulance services, their staff and many other generous people. In all honesty though, I would dearly wish that all the services would give their support to the ASBF, the only countrywide ambulance charity. This would not only ensure that we continue in the provision of care for ambulance staff now, but will help the charity move forward and develop care programmes up to the same level as that provided to personnel from the charities of the fire service, police service and the military.
My new year message to all the UK Ambulance Services CEOs is very simple: I invite all Ambulance Trusts to pledge their support to the ASBF in 2014 and encourage staff to raise funds by the many means available to them. This will ensure that we can meet our planned future aims and objectives of providing extra support to those members of staff to deal with that unforeseen personal crisis or period of hardship. We would be delighted to have the opportunity to meet you to explain and discuss the development plans we have for the future of the ASBF.
I would also like to take this opportunity for thanking all the ambulance service magazines, journals and newspapers for donating space for articles promoting the ASBF, to the ambulance manufacturers and equipment suppliers for their continuing support, and to the event and show organisers for their generous donation of stand space. We are so grateful.
On behalf of the ASBF Trustees, I would like to sincerely thank everyone for their support and wish you all a very happy Christmas and a healthy and prosperous new year.
Season's greetings
I have been so inspired with the fund raising activities that have taken place during 2013. The EEAS pedalling paramedics have again amazed everyone with another marathon bike ride, which this year was from Blackpool Tower to the Eiffel Tower in Paris, and all in six days—an incredible achievement! Also from EEAS, the female athletes who competed in the National Emergency Services Triathlon and the lady from the Welsh Ambulance Service who competed in the Cardiff marathon—collectively they have raised over £30 000. Can anyone else meet or beat these challenges? Please let us know.
These are all remarkable achievements but there are also many ambulance staff countrywide who continually support us, selling badges, making regular contributions through donation from salary schemes, such as ‘Give As You Earn’, and many other fundraising activities. There have also been some very generous gifts from legacies, all in support of the ASBF.
The ASBF is undertaking some important changes with its moving forward programmes to improve its operational activities, and caring for the carers programmes, and we will shortly be appointing a part-time director to take the lead.
These are exciting and important moves for the charity and we need your support to help us move forward with our plans. Please take up the ASBF fundraising challenge for 2014 and visit our website for further information.
As patron of the ASBF, I want to thank all our generous sponsors and fundraisers and ask for your continuing support during 2014.
Wishing you all a very happy Christmas and a healthy and prosperous new year.