Volunteers’ Week (1st-7th June) is a national campaign held annually to celebrate and recognise the contributions of volunteers across the UK. For Magpas Air Ambulance, it is an opportunity to thank the extraordinary contribution of its 131 regular volunteers; recognising the vital role they play in helping the charity continue its lifesaving work across Cambridgeshire, Bedfordshire and the East of England.
From running charity stalls at fundraising days and cheering on supporters at challenge events, to teaching CPR training and welcoming visitors at the charity’s headquarters; and crucially providing administration support, helping with anything from finance to fundraising, and operations to facilities support. Volunteers are, and always have been, an essential part of Magpas Air Ambulance’s operation.
Lucy Chapman, Magpas Air Ambulance Director of Income and Engagement, explains, “When this vital charity was established in 1971, it was volunteer GPs who kept the service running, day and night. It was only after several decades, when Magpas Air Ambulance needed to ensure reliable, 24/7 operations that we moved to a paid model. However, we will never forget how much these volunteers contributed and changed the game for pre-hospital emergency medicine in those early days.
“Now, we still have hundreds of volunteers who help keep us operational, but they predominantly have a variety of fundraising and events roles. Their contribution allows us to do so much more both in the community and at our offices at our Cambridgeshire Headquarters; raising vital funds so our expert doctors and critical care paramedics can continue to provide lifesaving medical care when every second counts.”
Over the past year alone, volunteers donated an incredible 4,488 hours of support to the charity—the equivalent of 561 9-5 working days—giving their time across evenings, weekends and days off to support every aspect of the service.
Although most volunteers are individuals who want to give something back, Magpas Air Ambulance also welcomed volunteers from seven local business over the past year, with teams stepping away from their usual working days to support the charity through practical maintenance projects, event preparation and vehicle cleaning.
One of the charity’s most impactful volunteer programmes is its community CPR training initiative. In the last year, volunteer CPR trainers dedicated more than 643 hours teaching lifesaving skills to local people, helping Magpas Air Ambulance to train over 8,550 people in 2025.
When someone experiences a cardiac arrest, bystander CPR can significantly increase their chance of survival, making the work of these volunteer trainers particularly important in the Cambridgeshire community.
This year’s Volunteers’ Week celebrations have also highlighted the long-term commitment shown by Magpas Air Ambulance volunteers. Over the past year, the charity recognised 73 volunteering milestones, including volunteers achieving remarkable 300-hour and 500-hour milestones in service. Two of which were recently commended by the High Sheriff of Cambridgeshire.
Magpas Air Ambulance’s Volunteer and Engagement Lead, Sam Disney, shares, “Each milestone reflects the dedication and compassion of individuals who continue to give their time and skills to support our lifesaving service.
“I’m so proud to work with a team of more than 130 exceptional volunteers and am blown away by their generosity and passion every day. We hosted a volunteers’ celebration at our HQ to mark the week and say thank you officially, but we’re thankful every single day for their contributions to our lifesaving service. With them, we really do save lives.”
Last year, Magpas Air Ambulance experienced its busiest year on record. As it continues to meet the growing demand for its services, the charity is encouraging anyone interested in volunteering to find out more about the wide range of opportunities available.
