Wiltshire Air Ambulance launches volunteer Facebook page

WILTSHIRE Air Ambulance (WAA) has set up a dedicated Facebook page for its volunteers.

The page  – www.face book.com/waavolunteer – is for existing WAA volunteers and for people interested in becoming a volunteer with the charity.

Jemma Brown, WAA’s volunteer manager said, “The Volunteer Facebook page is there to celebrate the incredible work our volunteers do for us and it’s also there to help recruit new volunteers. Other charities have volunteer Facebook pages and their volunteers use them regularly.

“We are using it to update our volunteers on events that are coming up and where we would like their help. We encourage our volunteers to post updates about events they have been to. Since we set the page up a few weeks ago we have had six enquiries from people interested in becoming a volunteer for us, which is brilliant.”

Yanti Pegler, of Melksham, who has been a volunteer with WAA for three years said the Facebook page is a useful tool to enable volunteers to be kept up to date with information.

She said, “It’s great, it’s so easy to keep in touch with what’s going on. It’s such a privilege to be part of Wiltshire Air Ambulance’s team. Being a volunteer is rewarding and fun. Join us and you will also have fun. When we have fun, they (the air ambulance) keep flying and we help to keep them flying!”

WAA has about 70 active volunteers and would like to increase the number to 100 by the end of 2015. The charity is holding an event on Saturday 6th June from 10.00am to 12.30pm at Devizes during National Volunteers’ Week for existing volunteers and people interested in becoming volunteers.

Jemma said, “Our volunteers are our ambassadors and we would like more to enable us to cover events that are going on in the community. Our volunteers represent Wiltshire Air Ambulance at fundraising events, attend cheque presentations and give talks. Our volunteers are enthusiastic and have a passion for what we do. We couldn’t do what we do without them and we would love more people to join us.”

For more information about becoming a volunteer with WAA or the event on 6th June email jemma@wiltshireairambulance.co.uk or call 01380 739453.