Dawlishs u3a group has been keeping its members connected throughout the Covid crisis, holding meetings over Zoom with guest speakers. The latest event was a presentation on behalf of Devon Air Ambulance, as publicity officer John Vick reports.

Dawlish & District u3a members welcomed back representatives of the Devon Air Ambulance to their monthly meetings after an interval of over six years. Chairman Graham Carey reminded members that at the group's very first meeting after its founding in 2014, the Devon Air Ambulance were their very first guests.

Since then, a great deal has happened, as volunteers Tony Cannon and Cara Jones described. Devon Air Ambulance is now a familiar presence in our community, perhaps one we take for granted, but Tony reminded everyone how it came into existence. It came substantially from the efforts of the mother of a young boy who died in a tragic accident. She asked the medical team what could have saved her son. The clear answer was speed. This spurred her into a fundraising effort to create Devon Air Ambulance so that casualties and sick people could be taken to hospital as quickly as possible.

It came into service in 1992, operating with just one helicopter, five days a week and in daylight hours only. By 2005, a second helicopter was purchased, and by 2016, night flights were also possible. A further significant development was in 2019 when Devon Air Ambulance became an independent registered healthcare provider. This means that it can provide a greater range of services, training and support. This includes operating two critical care cars, an important but less well-known part of the service we all benefit from.

The dedicated team of dispatchers at the Call Centre in Exeter, working alongside the other 999 services, decide whether to send a helicopter or car. This will depend on the nature of incident, availability, weather and ensuring that the most critical cases have priority. Those needing emergency treatment can be sent as far away as Southampton and Bristol as well as to hospitals across the south west.

How Devon Air Ambulance has coped with the Covid pandemic

As we all know, the pandemic has created enormous challenges for charities, but Devon Air Ambulance has had to confront very specific difficulties. Interiors of helicopters are not designed to achieve social distancing, and standard clothing and equipment on board does not easily facilitate screens and PPE. A further problem is that communications equipment for flight crew and medical team does not allow for masks. As a result, flights (but not cars) were suspended for six weeks while intensive work was undertaken to redesign equipment and revise working practices to make them as safe as possible. Everything is now functioning as it should, and the service even has the additional benefit of a new Airbus 145 helicopter.

A very different challenge has been the impact on fundraising. Devon Air Ambulance is completely independent of government support and relies entirely on donations from the community it serves. The pandemic has meant that all the major streams of fund raising, especially from their charity shops and events, have been suspended or disrupted. From an annual budget of over £8.5 million, they have lost £2 million. There has been a great deal of innovation and creativity in attempts to bridge this funding gap, and over 650 dedicated volunteers are determined to do all they can to maintain this vital service. Responses include running their own lottery, virtual events, finding new ways to engage with the community and introducing online sales. But these acute problems remain.

Members participated again in this meeting on Zoom, but that did not mean there was any less interest or engagement with the speakers. Members were clearly keen to understand more about this vital service and were eager to find out how we can all help to keep the show on the road – and in the air! Those who wish to find out more can visit Devon Air Ambulance Trust (daat.org)

Dawlish & District u3a has over 100 members who meet monthly to listen to speakers on a diverse range of subjects, and to enjoy each other's company. In addition, about 20 interest groups meet throughout the month to pursue subjects as varied as Great Lives, History, French Conversation, Wine Appreciation, Scrabble, Rumikub, and Gardens & Gateaux. To find out more, visit www.u3a.dawlish.info