SICL to the rescue with Yorkshire Air Ambulance

Emergency rapid response team gains respite from constant fundraising thanks to reseller

SICL recently took the opportunity to meet the Yorkshire Air Ambulance team, a charity which the infrastructure and services provider has recommitted to supporting with a new five-year, £170,000 sponsorship deal.

Cliff Fox, managing director of SICL, said the Yorkshire Air Ambulance has long been SICL's chosen charity but back in 2006 it decided to do more, by providing IT support and services for no cost over five years. So far this has saved the rescue team £125,000.

"We have a great admiration for the Yorkshire Air Ambulance, operationally, personally and ethically. We are all very proud to support this charity, which saves lives in the region where we live and work," Fox said.

The deal, this time to provide services, support and infrastructure until 2018, has grown in line with the independent charity's dependence on IT.

Neale Jacobs, operations manager at the Yorkshire Air Ambulance, said it could not thank SICL enough for its continued support.

"To have their continued support, which this time is worth more than £170,000, is phenomenal. This is equivalent to keeping us flying for over three weeks," Jacobs said.

"We have to raise funds each and every day of the year to keep running, so savings of this nature really are significant, and allow us to spend donated funds on keeping both of the helicopters maintained and in the air, saving lives."

Normally, the organisation needs to raise £7,200 a day to keep its rescue operation running seven days a week, 365 days a year. SICL will be permitted to put its logo on both helicopters used by the charity, which has rescued more than 4,700 people to date.

Pictured left to right are Yorkshire Air Ambulance paramedic Paul Kilner, SICL managing director Cliff Fox, Yorkshire Air Ambulance office and operations manager Neale Jacobs and – seated in the chopper – SICL financial director Shirley Firth.