Latest news

We hope you enjoy this first issue of your new magazine, celebrating the incredible people who deliver and support our life-saving care, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. We would love to know your thoughts, so please do get in touch! Thank you.

In this issue

3 Welcome to your new magazine 4 Latest news 6 Noel’s story 9 A day in the life... KSS crew 16 Our vision and values 18 Our people; behind the scenes at KSS 22 A day in the life of... KSS operations 24 Fabulous fundraising. Thank you to... 26 A collection box’s story 28 Events round-up 32 Kerry’s story

Ways to support KSS

20 Could you win the KSS Lottery? 31 Leave a lasting legacy 34 2022 events — sign up today!

Keep in touch

Air Ambulance Charity Kent Surrey Sussex Rochester City Airport Maidstone Road Chatham Kent ME5 9SD aakss.org.uk hello@aakss.org.uk 01634 471 900 airambulancekss

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KSSAirAmbulance

Registered charity number 1021367. A company limited by guarantee. Registered in England and Wales. Company no. 2803242

Welcome

Welcome to Above and Beyond, your new supporter magazine!

I wanted to begin by sending you my sincere and heartfelt thanks – every medical emergency we have responded to over the past 32 years has been possible thanks to the generosity of our supporters. Together we have attended 35,000 incidents across Kent, Surrey and Sussex. Our crews go above and beyond every day and so do you, our inspiring and dedicated supporters. Together we’re providing the very best possible outcomes for our patients. Thank you on behalf of our patients and their families who have received our critical, prehospital emergency care. Inside this first edition you’ll learn about day-to-day life at our Redhill base from our Operational Support Team (page 22) and one of our crew members (page 9). You’ll also read about how your support is helping to save lives across our regions like Noel (page 6). His story illustrates just how critical your support and care is, in saving lives and keeping families together. The past 20 months have been immensely challenging for us all, but we are so incredibly grateful for your ongoing support and dedication during this uncertain time. We launched our first ever emergency appeal in 2020 (page 30) which has meant we’ve been able to continue delivering our critical care throughout the pandemic, without missing a single shift. Our response to COVID-19 and ongoing work to provide the best possible outcomes for our patients was recognised recently at the Kent Charity Awards and Charity Times Awards (page 4). We know that this success was only achievable thanks to the sheer dedication and commitment from all of Team KSS, including our teams, volunteers, trustees, fundraisers and you, our supporters. I often say this is the best job I have ever had, the best team I’ve ever had the privilege to lead and the best organisation I’ve ever been a part of. Thank you for the vital role you play in making all of our work possible. Best wishes,

David David Welch, CEO