Air Ambulance Week returns to celebrate the people behind every lifesaving mission

Air Ambulance Week has returned for 2026, shining a spotlight on the people and communities whose support helps keep the UK’s lifesaving air ambulance charities flying.

Running from 7-13 September, the annual campaign brings together Air Ambulances UK and the UK’s 21 air ambulance charities under this year’s theme, Every Mission Starts With You.

The campaign highlights the vital role played by donors, fundraisers, volunteers, corporate partners and supporters in enabling air ambulance crews to respond to emergencies across the UK.

Collectively, the UK’s air ambulance charities attend an average of 137 lifesaving missions every day, providing advanced pre-hospital critical care to patients experiencing life-threatening trauma and medical emergencies.

Air ambulance teams bring hospital-level emergency care directly to patients, with specialist doctors, paramedics and nurses working alongside highly trained pilots and crew members. Equipped with advanced medicines, interventions and medical equipment, crews deliver critical treatment at the scene before patients reach hospital.

Unlike NHS ambulance services, the UK’s air ambulance charities receive no day-to-day Government funding for their charitable operations and rely predominantly on public donations to continue providing this care.

“Every mission starts with you – and that couldn’t be more true for the UK’s air ambulance charities. Behind every lifesaving mission is the support of people and organisations backing their local air ambulance, whether through donations, fundraising, volunteering or helping to raise awareness.

“Air Ambulance Week is an opportunity to recognise that vital support and the role it plays in helping crews deliver lifesaving care across the UK, because every mission really does start with you.”

Mike McGrath, Chief Executive of Air Ambulances UK.

Throughout the week, Air Ambulances UK will share stories from across the sector, highlighting patients, crew members, volunteers and supporters, alongside the impact of advanced pre-hospital critical care on patients and their families.

The national campaign includes media partnerships, fundraising initiatives, community events and parliamentary engagement designed to raise awareness of the sector’s work.

An estimated 65 million Royal Mail letters will carry a ‘Support your local air ambulance’ message during the week, while campaign activity will also feature across national media outlets including Heart Radio, talkSPORT, ITV, Metro, House Magazine and Your Horse & Country.

Campaign activity will also head to Westminster, where Air Ambulances UK and charity representatives will support parliamentary engagement and present a public petition calling for safeguarded 24/7 on-site hospital helipad access at Major Trauma Centres and specialist hospitals.

Alongside this, Air Ambulances UK is working with the Civil Aviation Authority to raise awareness of the risks posed by laser attacks on air ambulance aircraft.

Across the country, individual air ambulance charities will also host fundraising events, supporter activities, media opportunities and community engagement initiatives to showcase the impact they have in their local communities.

Air Ambulances UK is encouraging people to support their local air ambulance charity during Air Ambulance Week, whether through donating, fundraising, volunteering or helping spread awareness of the service.

To read similar articles, check out our Frontline channel.

Air Ambulances UK will be exhibiting at The Emergency Services Show on 16-17 September at NEC, Birmingham. You can find Air Ambulances UK on Stand CZ67. Register for your free ticket here.