International Women’s Day Interview SPCC Fleur
March 8, 2024
Our Impact in 2023 (part 2)
March 13, 2024Welcome!
As we looked towards 2023, we made a promise that we would strive to be there for everyone who needs us. We hope as you read on that you’ll see us delivering on that promise.
We achieved growth in many areas. We opened more shops, trained a record number of people in CPR and placed more defibrillators across our region. Our crew shared their knowledge with others and pushed boundaries in pre-hospital emergency medicine. Our dedicated volunteers gave much time and energy, helping to bring in record donations.
In June we celebrated the 15th anniversary of our first-ever flight, which came shortly after our joint busiest week on record, in May. Patient numbers increased and 2023 became our second busiest year; we were called to 1,979 people including more children than ever before.
Everything we achieved was only possible thanks to your unwavering support and that of the communities we serve.
We humbly ask that you remain by our side, supporting us, so we can be there for the patients of tomorrow. Let’s continue saving lives together.
2023 mission stats
Number of call-outs
up from 1,808 in 2022
Critical care car (73%)
up from 1,268 in 2022
Helicopter (27%)
the same as in 2022
1,017
Medical emergencies (51%)
up from 933 in 2022
962
Trauma incidents (49%)
up from 875 in 2022
Motorcycle incidents
up from 69
Bicycle incidents
up from 47
Equestrian incidents
up from 20
Agricultural incidents
up from 7
Great Western Hearts
We continued to strengthen the chain of survival
Cardiac arrests accounted for 25% of our call-outs in 2023
“I liked being able to practise doing CPR on the dummy; it helps you to save someone’s life. I liked that one of the paramedics could communicate with us in British Sign Language.”
Our Heartstarters volunteers taught
9,141
people CPR & defibrillator use
Up from 6,469 in 2022
including:
6,087
students, across 104 secondary schools
Up from 5,580 in 2022
as well as:
1,798
people in community groups
They also taught:
1,288
students first aid for knife injuries
Up from 1,005 in 2022
Defibrillator Project
Our Defibrillator project raised £105,875 and helped communities install 52 new defibs.
We ended the year with 69 public access defibrillators in place across our region and empowered our communities with the knowledge and confidence to use them.
We started work with a new supporter group, Donate for Defib Weston-super- Mare Project. They raised nearly £15,000, installed seven defibs and inspired 16 groups, businesses and organisations to raise money to fund a community defib.
Community defibrillators installed
Hamish's story
Eight-year-old Hamish badly injured his arm when he jumped off a garden swing in Pill, North Somerset. He needed the help of the GWAAC crew, who quickly took off in the helicopter and just minutes later landed in a nearby playing field. They assessed Hamish’s injuries, inserted a cannula into his vein and gave him morphine to reduce his pain. Hamish was taken to Bristol Royal Hospital for Children in a land ambulance, where he had an operation to fix his broken arm. Although Hamish had to learn a new technique for bowling in cricket, he is now back to his usual sporty self.
We opened three new shops
Our shops not only raise vital funds for our lifesaving service, but they also act as comunity hubs where we can engage our supporters.
Our presence on the high street gives us an opportunity to talk to our communities face to face, they give people the chance to recycle unwanted clothes and goods, they allow people the chance to take on enjoyable volunteering and of course they allow locals the chance to pick up a sustainable bargain or two!
Gloucester
Our shops are a really important part of our charity. Not only do they help generate the income that keeps us flying and administering lifesaving care to people but they also help people to know who we are, and it really helps the charity become part of the wider community."
Cinderford
"Thank you to everyone who has helped us get here; thank you for the donations, to the volunteers who helped us set up, and to our new Cinderford retail team who we employed from the local area. Now all we’re asking is that people come in and shop!”
Thornbury
“Today, we’re opening our seventh shop right here on Thornbury High Street where everyone can see us, and everyone can shop with us. Thank you so much to all our volunteers and staff and to everyone who has donated items to get us to this point today.”
In August we joined Charity Super.Mkt
The UK's first ever multi-charity shop
With the help of our amazing volunteers and thanks to all the generous donations, our residence at CharitySuper.Mkt raised over £20,000; enough to fund ten lifesaving missions.
We created our Andy Council Mural
We invited renowned spray artist Andy Council to create a welcome mural at the entrance to our airbase. The design is available on a cycle jersey in partnership with Presca.
We launched our own coffee
Blended by SPCC Jack, in partnership with Wogan Coffee we released our own Coffee 'Blend 65'. With cherry notes, dark chocolate and praline flavours it's the perfect blend for a shift on the heli or in the office.
We released a GWAAC chilli sauce!
In partnership with Clifton Chilli Club, we blended 'Helipeno' chilli sauce. With the warmth of the ring-of-fire chilli and the depth of the jalepeno, this is ideal for adding a kick to curries and chillis.
Thank you to our dedicated volunteers
hours donated by 240 volunteers
people were taught CPR, defibrillation
and emergency first aid
(Up from 923 in 2022)
volunteers worked across our seven shops
collection tins
