Malmesbury League of Friends funds lifesaving education for every child in the town

A £45,000 investment will bring Wiltshire and Bath Air Ambulance Charity's Aware+ programme to schools across Malmesbury and surrounding villages, while further funding supports critical care equipment used by aircrew.

Malmesbury League of Friends has pledged £45,000 to help ensure every school-aged child in Malmesbury and surrounding villages can take part in Wiltshire and Bath Air Ambulance Charity's Aware+ programme.

The funding will enable children across the town to learn vital lifesaving skills such as the recovery position, choking, CPR and calling 999. Community groups will also have opportunities to learn how to use public access defibrillators, many of which have been funded by Malmesbury League of Friends.

The latest donation continues a long-standing partnership between the two organisations. Since 2013, Malmesbury League of Friends has donated more than £140,000 to Wiltshire and Bath Air Ambulance Charity, with total support this year alone totalling an incredible £60,000.

The aim is to equip members of the public with the knowledge and skills to act confidently in a medical emergency before an ambulance arrives, helping to give patients the best possible chance of a positive outcome. The value of this training became a reality for 11-year-old Maxi Bastable when his grandfather, Francis, began choking on a Murray Mint at home in Malmesbury. Remaining calm, Maxi used an abdominal thrust to dislodge the sweet successfully. Maxi had previously learned lifesaving skills through Wiltshire and Bath Air Ambulance Charity's Aware+ programme at Westonbirt Prep School in Tetbury in 2022. By providing the sessions free of charge throughout Malmesbury and surrounding villages, more children will gain the confidence and skills needed to respond should they ever face a similar emergency. 

Vice chair and secretary of Malmesbury League of Friends, Chas Gould, explained,

“For a number of years the Malmesbury League of Friends (MLOF) have funded or co-funded the purchase of 24 defibrillators for public use within the Malmesbury and surrounding villages and have recognised that there is a need for training in their use. We are very pleased to be partnering with Wiltshire and Bath Air Ambulance Charity to provide free emergency first aid training in the Malmesbury area.

"The aim of this joint project is to ensure that every child in the Malmesbury area can complete the Charity’s Aware+ programme via their school for free. It also aims to make similar training available to all adults in the same area free of charge and finally to identify opportunities for the MLOF to fund or co-fund the purchase of further defibrillators within the area.”

As well as funding this essential education programme, Malmesbury League of Friends has also provided £15,000 to fund three EPOC blood analysis machines, costing £5,000 each, for the helicopter and two critical care cars. The analysers provide lab-quality results in under 60 seconds, right at the patient's side, wherever that may be across the region. Real-time data enables clinicians to make informed decisions quickly without waiting for hospital laboratory results, ultimately supporting better outcomes for patients.

Peter Burch, Trusts and Major Donor Lead at Wiltshire and Bath Air Ambulance Charity explained, “We are thrilled to have the continued support of MalmesburyLeague of Friends in giving free first aid to all school children in the town, via our Aware+ programme.

"Over the past decade, Malmesbury League of Friends has made a significant contribution of over £100,000 to our Charity, supporting both lifesaving education and the specialist equipment our crew relies upon to deliver critical care. This year, Malmesbury League of Friends has already donated £15,000 towards three blood testing machines for our clinical crew, and now we are beyond excited to introduce Aware+ to Malmesbury and surrounding villages. 

"Everyone connected to Wiltshire and Bath Air Ambulance cannot thank Malmesbury League of Friends enough for their belief and support of our work, be it saving lives or educating children.”

In 2025, Wiltshire and Bath Air Ambulance Charity responded to 1,159 missions, including attending 130 children. With just a seven-minute flight time to Malmesbury, the crew responded to 14 emergencies in the town so far this year.

As a Charity, Wiltshire and Bath Air Ambulance Charity relies entirely on the support of local communities, fundraisers, Gifts in Wills, businesses and trusts such as Malmesbury League of Friends to continue providing vital critical medical care across Wiltshire and Bath.