National Volunteers’ Week 2022
Carole and Clive

Volunteering at EHAAT –  Carole Simmonds and Clive Enguell

Clive and I became volunteers for Essex Air Ambulance in 2011, recently receiving our ten year awards. We were looking for a way to say thank you after the Essex Air Ambulance went out to my uncle a couple of times, saving his life on both occasions. We help with community fundraising and over the years have done a variety of jobs from running stalls at large events at Barleylands and County Shows to small merchandise stalls at the local Fire Station Open Days. All have been very enjoyable, in particular the interaction with the public and especially the children. It is a great opportunity to make the public aware of EHAAT and to dispel a few myths about how we are funded. In later years we have also taken on the role of tin collectors covering the areas of Great Wakering, Shoebury, Thorpe Bay, Southend, Westcliff, Leigh and parts of Rayleigh. 

We get immense satisfaction from being volunteers although obviously things have been quiet for a couple of years and we cannot wait until we are able to get back to full time fundraising. The highlight of our time has to be the amalgamation with Hertfordshire in 2017. The anticipation of purchasing our own helicopter was very exciting and the first sight of the AW169 flying over Audley End had even the hardened volunteers weeping for joy. We cannot think of another charity more deserving and we are proud to be part of this wonderful team.