Solefield Soars High with Fundraising Efforts for Kent, Surrey, and Sussex Air Ambulance
Solefield School has taken to the skies this term with an inspiring fundraising initiative supporting the Kent, Surrey, and Sussex (KSS) Air Ambulance. Over 25 enthusiastic students have embraced the challenge, creating an array of special projects focussed on flying machines, which include working models, innovative designs, and even interviews with real pilots and a video of one of them landing a plane in Storm Darragh, shown in assembly and prompting a spontaneous round of applause.
The highlight of the term was a memorable school assembly featuring a visit from the KSS air ambulance crew, who captivated the pupils with stories of their courageous and vital work. The crew outlined how the air ambulance serves the community, delivering life-saving care to those in need. Their visit served as a powerful reminder of the importance of public support and the impact it can have on emergency services.
The pupils’ projects have been nothing short of remarkable, showcasing their creativity and commitment. From sophisticated, working model aircraft to detailed presentations on the air ambulance’s operations, the efforts have sparked interest and admiration across the school in boys and girls aged 3 to 13.
All pupils in Years 7 and 8 recently completed a life-saving training course with the Kent, Surrey, and Sussex Air Ambulance. Through engaging activities and hands-on demonstrations, students learned essential first aid skills and emergency response techniques, empowering them to make a positive impact in critical situations.
Headmistress Mrs Helen McClure expressed her pride in the initiative, stating, “I am incredibly proud of our pupils and the Solefield community for coming together to support such an important charity, under the guidance of our Charities’ Prefect, Dominic. Their hard work and dedication reflect the values we hold dear, and it is heartening to see our children so engaged in making a difference.”
As the term draws to a close, the school is preparing for a special fundraising event where families and community members can contribute to this vital service, ensuring that the inspirational work of the KSS air ambulance continues to thrive in our region. Solefield School’s commitment to this cause exemplifies the power of education and community spirit in creating positive change.
Francesca Vale, from the KSS air ambulance charity said, "It costs £56k a day to run our life saving service and 88% of this comes from our incredible community, this is why we are so excited to have the brilliant students at Solefield School fundraising for KSS, they are all life savers!"
"We are KSS and we save lives when every second counts. We are a world-leading charity at the forefront of Helicopter Emergency Medical Services (HEMS) on both a national and international platform. We are an independent charity.
We serve a population of 4.8M plus a transient population of 90M people. Over the past 35 years we've been tasked to over 46,000 incidents, saving lives and improving patient outcomes in our communities across Kent, Surrey and Sussex.
Team KSS is a highly skilled, diverse multi-disciplinary team of doctors, paramedics, dispatchers and pilots, as well as teams of other expert staff and volunteers across a wide range of specialisms and interests."
If you would like to support KSS Air Ambulance, please visit the following link, to donate to Air Ambulance Charity Kent Surrey Sussex. "Without you we can't keep saving lives" (KSS)
