Volunteers donate hundreds of hours to life-saving East Anglian Air Ambulance

As volunteers countywide have been praised for their dedication and commitment, a life-saving charity has highlighted how its helpers have made a massive impact on its free critical care service.

In marking Volunteers’ Week, the East Anglian Air Ambulance (EAAA) said volunteers have donated 12,500 hours of time in less than one year.

The figure, achieved between July 2024 and May 2025, was released during the national awareness week, with the EAAA saying the hours totted up to a value of more than £168,0000 - the equivalent of almost 40 life-saving taskings.

A spokesperson said this demonstrates the impact of volunteering on the charity, which provides 24/7 critical care across Norfolk, Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Suffolk.

EAAA completely depends on a dedicated, diverse and flexible group of individuals who volunteer to support it in delivering the service by dedicating their time and skills in many different ways, including supporting fundraising events, delivering CPR training and giving talks in the community, to name just a few.

EAAA head of volunteering, Sarah Hurren, said: “At EAAA we make it accessible to as many people as possible. It’s a wonderful achievement that, collectively, volunteers have given 12,500 hours of their time to EAAA since July 2024, and we are truly thankful to each and every person who donates their time and skills to the charity.”

Volunteers’ Week is an annual UK-wide campaign held from the first Monday in June to celebrate and recognise the contributions of volunteers. With 25 million people in the UK volunteering informally at least once last year, there are more opportunities than ever for people to get involved.

“At EAAA, we recognise that volunteers are individuals with busy lives, and one size doesn’t fit all,” Sarah added. “We listen, keep an ongoing dialogue and constantly strive to make it a satisfying, enjoyable and fun experience for each and every person who donates their time to us.

“The success of volunteering is that it works two ways. You can commit as little or as much as you wish, but we want you to feel that you’ve made a difference – because you are the difference.”

Cheryl Lewis, from South Norfolk, has been a volunteer with EAAA for four years following a chance conversation with another volunteer. It inspired her and her husband to get involved and she has become passionate about the cause.

She said: “This flexibility is paramount. I’m good at chatting with people and I’m at my happiest when I’m meeting others, supporting EAAA events and giving talks. It’s so rewarding and enjoyable. It’s enriched my life. When you volunteer with EAAA, you’re a person not a number. Everything you do, you are thanked for.”

EAAA has opportunities for regular, occasional, one-off volunteers and new micro-volunteering – short tasks which don’t necessary require any ongoing commitment, but ones which can still make a life-saving impact in the heart of the communities EAAA serves.

For more information, visit: Volunteering - East Anglian Air Ambulance