Team Air Ambulance NI with the organisation’s Investing in Volunteers (IiV) accreditation
Air Ambulance Northern Ireland is proud to have been re-accredited the prestigious Investing in Volunteers (IiV) accreditation, the UK quality standard for involving volunteers.
The charity has a dedicated team of volunteers who help raise funds and awareness for the life-saving service, and is calling for more support in 2025.
Janice Crowe, Volunteer Co-ordinator at Air Ambulance NI charity said:
“Our volunteers are the backbone of the charity, and the accreditation honours the contribution made by each of them who have shown such support. We have a bigger events portfolio for 2025 and need volunteers to help at Moy Park Belfast City Marathon, North West 200, Shanes Castle May Day Steam Rally and many other collections and events.
“Some of our volunteers give an hour or two each year, some an hour or two a week, so please get in touch if you even have an hour to spare.”
Volunteer April McCartney
April McCartney, volunteer for Air Ambulance NI from Dundonald said:
“I help out at fundraising events when I am free and enjoy being part of the volunteer team at Air Ambulance. I’ve been able to visit the airbase and see the helicopter that serves our community.
“It’s good to know that by giving my time as a volunteer I am playing my part in helping to save lives.”
The IiV accreditation is the UK quality standard for good practise in volunteer management. It acts as a seal of approval for an organisation’s ability to provide an outstanding volunteer experience by thoroughly assessing the quality of volunteer management and involvement, acknowledging areas where an organisation is performing well and identifying where there may be room for improvement.
Air Ambulance NI was first awarded the accreditation in 2021 when they had 128 volunteers. That family has now grown to 200 volunteers, people of all ages and backgrounds who lend their support across three volunteer roles: event support volunteer; collection box co-ordinator and community ambassador.
Feedback from volunteers is an essential part of the IiV assessment process. In total, 30 volunteers were interviewed as part of Air Ambulance NI’s accreditation, as well as four members of staff and one trustee.
Air Ambulance NI volunteers
Air Ambulance NI was assessed against a range of best practice standards and proved to excel in all aspects of working with its volunteers.
Denise Hayward, Chief Executive Officer at Volunteer Now, said:
“Volunteer Now is delighted to announce Air Ambulance NI’s successful achievement of this Award. They have demonstrated a real commitment to volunteering, and proven that their volunteer management policies and procedures meet nationally recognised standards.”
The charity Air Ambulance Northern Ireland, in partnership with the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service, provides the HEMS for Northern Ireland. The service brings urgent medical assistance to anywhere in the province, operating seven days a week for 12 hours per day. It can get to anywhere in Northern Ireland in approximately twenty-five minutes.
If you would like to volunteer for Air Ambulance NI, please contact Air Ambulance NI by email at info@airambulanceni.orgor call 028 9262 2677.