Great Western Air Ambulance Charity (GWAAC) has been announced as a finalist in five categories for the upcoming Air Ambulance Awards of Excellence. The national awards, hosted by Air Ambulances UK (AAUK), recognize the exceptional lifesaving skills and commitment of individuals and organizations within the air ambulance community. The ceremony will take place on December 3, 2025 at Telford International Centre.
GWAAC, which serves the communities of Bristol, Bath, North East Somerset, Gloucestershire, South Gloucestershire, North Somerset, and parts of Wiltshire, is proud to have its nominees recognized for their efforts in providing critical care and saving lives.
The nominees from GWAAC are:
Breaking Barriers
GWAAC’s Access to PHEM (Pre-Hospital Emergency Medicine) program, led by its Trainee Critical Care Doctors, aims to support hospital doctors in transitioning into pre-hospital medicine. The program offers mentorship and educational support, with a focus on improving accessibility for underrepresented groups, such as female doctors.
Young Person of the Year
After GWAAC’s crew assisted her late grandfather in 2024, young fundraiser Sophie Pascoe was determined to give back. She has raised an impressive £6,000 for GWAAC by participating in swimming challenges at her local swimming pool.
Charity Volunteer of the Year
In honor of her brother Luke Allen, Holly Allen has raised over £40,000 for GWAAC, surpassing their initial goal of £30,000 for what would have been Luke’s 30th birthday in May of this year. Holly has shown incredible resilience and determination in the face of her brother’s passing.
Innovation of the Year
Following the success of GWAAC’s Great Western Hearts CPR and AED education program for secondary schools, the organization has launched a new initiative called Junior Hearts, aimed at teaching lifesaving skills to 10 and 11-year-olds. With the support of National Highways’ Social Values Fund and Hook Studio, GWAAC has created a fun and easy-to-use learning pack for schools, complete with pillowcases for CPR practice, making the topic more accessible and engaging.
Supplier of the Year
Facilities management company FLT Group has been a trusted supplier for GWAAC for over three years. In the past 12 months, they have gone above and beyond to support critical maintenance, key projects, and emergency situations, despite budget constraints and mounting pressures.
Anna Perry, CEO of GWAAC, expressed her excitement about the nominations, saying, “Having five finalists in this year’s Air Ambulance UK Awards of Excellence is fabulous! It speaks volumes about the wonderful work and dedication of our supporters, crew, and staff at GWAAC. They are all so deserving, and we will all be keeping our fingers crossed on Awards night.”
In addition to these exciting nominations, GWAAC is also celebrating a national award win for its partner, Donate for Defib Weston-super-Mare (WSM). The project, which has raised over £80,000 for public access defibrillators and provided CPR and defib training sessions in the WSM area through GWAAC’s Great Western Hearts defibrillator program, was named the overall winner in the Community Category of the BBC Make a Difference Awards 2025 in September.
Joe Hughes, Strategic Partnerships Manager at GWAAC, shared his enthusiasm for the win, saying, “We are delighted to see Donate for Defib WSM recognized for their outstanding work. Their dedication to improving survival from cardiac arrest through awareness, education, and accessible equipment is inspiring. Winning this prestigious BBC award is a testament to the impact they are making in their community.”
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