AFTER a successful year raising funds during its first year as a stand-alone air ambulance, Wiltshire Air Ambulance has been shortlisted for a national award.

The team are up for the Fundraising Charity of the Year (small) category in the Institute of Fundraising National Fundraising Awards, with the winner being announced later this month.

In 2015 Wiltshire Air Ambulance (WAA) underwent fundamental changes to the way its lifesaving service was funded and delivered, from sharing a helicopter with Wiltshire Police to operating a stand-alone air ambulance.

As a result of this change the charity’s running costs increased from £700,000 to £2.5m a year.

The same year saw WAA celebrate its silver jubilee year with a series of fundraising events and on the operational side it began carrying blood on board, enabling its critical care paramedics and doctors to give vital pre-hospital blood transfusions to critically injured or ill patients.

The charity surpassed its fundraising target in 2015 by raising £3.06m, which equates to a donation of £4.47 for every person in Wiltshire.

Rebecca de la Bedoyere, senior fundraising manager at WAA, said the team were “thrilled” to be shortlisted in the prestigious awards.

“To be shortlisted we had to demonstrate that, through teamwork, we had achieved considerable and recognisable fundraising success,” she said.

“To be one of just four charities in the country shortlisted for this award is as much a testament to our supporters, volunteers and the people of Wiltshire as it is to the charity, and I’d like to thank everyone who has played a part.

“We receive incredible support from the people of Wiltshire and neighbouring counties and it is this that enables our helicopter and crew to continue flying and saving lives.”

The shortlisting of WAA in this award follows the success it achieved earlier this year when it won Lottery Operator of the Year at the Lotteries Council Awards 2016.