Midlands Air Ambulance appoints new trustees
The managing director of a major business based in the county has been named as one of two new trustees for the region's air ambulance.
The Midlands Air Ambulance has announced that Neal Hooper and Vivienne McVey have both joined the charity's board of trustees.
Mr Hooper is managing director of fire-alarm firm Aico, which has its UK headquarters at Oswestry, and Mrs McVey is chief executive of Virgin Care.
Both have joined the charity after what was described as an open selection process.
The appointments come as organisations across the country mark Volunteers Week – which runs until June 7.
The lifesaving air ambulance service relies on voluntary support from more than 200 people across the communities it services.
They assist with various duties, including support in the charity’s shops, helping at events – and as trustees serving on the board.
Mr Hooper, who has thirty years of experience as a company director, including working for large corporations such as Siemens and Honeywell, said it was an honour to be selected for the role.
He said: “My team at Aico and I are committed to giving back to the community, and I actively seek to support good causes where I can. I am privileged to become a trustee for Midlands Air Ambulance Charity, supporting the service with its strategic goals. I am looking forward to the opportunity to assist the charity in its mission to continue to deliver the very best pre-hospital advanced care to over 4,500 people within the Midlands each year.”
The charity said Mr Hooper would also play an intrinsic role on its fundraising committee.
Ms McVey, whose earlier career involved being a GP, working as a doctor in the NHS for nearly twenty years, having graduated in medicine from the University of Cambridge, will also sit on the charity's clinical services development working group.
She said: "Having worked in the healthcare industry, with NHS and private sector experience, I am passionate about providing the best patient care to those I serve, formerly as an NHS clinician, and latterly as CEO of Virgin Care. It will therefore be an honour to support Midlands Air Ambulance Charity on its board, committed to helping save the lives of so many people in their most vulnerable time."
Hanna Sebright, chief executive of Midlands Air Ambulance Charity, added: “This year not only marks our 30th anniversary, but sees our charity start to develop our first combined airbase and charity headquarters. This, coupled with a reduction in fundraising income as an on going result of the pandemic, means it is a critical time for our vitally important rapid response service.
"Therefore, we are extremely fortunate to welcome the support of Vivienne and Neal. Their expertise, alongside our chairman and fellow trustees, will be invaluable in supporting the future of our organisation.”
