Civic and Community Leaders’ Circle

Civic Leaders event press release 

PRESS RELEASE  

[DATE]  

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE  

[Local leader] joins forces with Air Ambulance Charity Kent Surrey Sussex to champion lifesaving care in their communities across [insert area]  

[Name, civic position held or organisation] has pledged their support for Air Ambulance Charity Kent Surrey Sussex Air Ambulance (KSS) after attending the charity’s Civic and Community Leaders’ Circle event on [date] at its Redhill Aerodrome/Rochester Airport base.  

KSS saves lives and provides the best possible patient outcomes for people who suddenly become seriously injured or critically ill across Kent, Surrey and Sussex day and night, 365 days a year. The charity’s air ambulance helicopters are like flying emergency rooms, bringing the hospital to the patient when every second counts for survival. 

It costs £58k a day to operate the vital service with the charity responding to around eight emergency calls each day, each one almost entirely funded through public support.  

As a new member of the Civic and Community Leaders’ Circle [Name] has committed to raising awareness of the lifesaving work of KSS and encouraging greater community support. This includes helping to raise awareness and support for KSS and playing an important part in building an army of lifesavers across the South East by ensuring as many people as possible are trained in how to give CPR and use a defibrillator to help save even more lives.  

Optional paragraph: 

As part of the collaboration  [Leader/Organisation] is proud to announce   that they have chosen to support KSS through a  Charity of the Year partnership This type of partnership enables organisations to make a measurable difference by helping to fund lifesaving missions through fundraising activities as well as engaging staff in meaningful community CPR initiatives. This also demonstrates visible commitment to public safety across [insert area]. Such partnerships play a significant role in keeping KSS flying and ensuring its crews can continue delivering lifesaving care whenever it is needed most. 

[Insert leader name] said: “KSS is an extraordinary charity providing the only air ambulance service for the people of [insert], delivering hospital-level treatment and care to the most critically injured and unwell patients. I’m so proud to help support their incredible lifesaving work in my communities so that we can jointly save even more lives and keep more families and loved ones together”  

The highly skilled team of doctors and paramedics at KSS perform lifesaving procedures - like open-heart surgery, blood transfusions, and emergency anaesthetic - right at the scene, giving patients the best chance of survival.  

David Welch, KSS Chief Executive, said: “Our vision is for an end to preventable loss of life from medical emergency, and we know we can only achieve this by working closely with our communities. With the majority of our income funded by public support, we’re committed to working together with community leaders, local organisations and supporters to raise awareness of our lifesaving work and to build the support needed to reach even more patients and save even more lives.  

“We also want to empower people locally to learn lifesaving skills such how to give CPR and use a defibrillator, skills that can make a crucial lifesaving difference in the minutes before expert help arrives. 

“By strengthening these community collaborations, we can turn awareness into action and moments of crisis into stories of survival. Together, we will save even more lives.”   

 For media enquiries contact:  

[Contact details]  

For media enquiries regarding KSS:  

Press Office - news@aakss.org.uk