How engagement first funding keeps Air Ambulance flying - with Keith Wilson

Air ambulances are among the most trusted charities in the UK, but most people have no idea how they're funded, what it costs to keep them flying, or the sheer scale of engagement needed to make it all happen. In this episode, Tim and Piers sit down with Keith Wilson, Director of Income and Engagement at Hampshire and Isle of Wight Air Ambulance, to find out exactly that. Keith spent a decade at a children's hospice before joining HIOWAA, and in the years since, he's overseen a major transformation in how the charity thinks about fundraising — or rather, why it doesn't call it fundraising at all. He's also led one of the most ambitious infrastructure projects in the charity's history: a brand new operational airbase near Southampton Airport, complete with a public visitor centre. It's a fascinating conversation about leadership, engagement, legacy income, volunteers, and the very human reality of funding a life-saving emergency service entirely through charitable support. In this episode • How Keith stumbled into the charity sector via a ghost hunt at a Winchester theatre • How air ambulances actually work and why every one is different • Why HIOWAA doesn't use the word "fundraising" and what they do instead • The sim van: a flight simulator in a transit van that opened unexpected doors • The new airbase and visitor centre and how it creates year-round engagement • What it costs to keep an air ambulance operational (the answer might surprise you) • The role of regular giving, legacy income, and why one major gift can change everything • Volunteers: why 80% of HIOWAA's community events are entirely volunteer-led • The toughest leadership lesson Keith has learned • Looking ahead: what the next five years hold for the charity, hopes and honest concerns Find out more • Hampshire and Isle of Wight Air Ambulance: hiowaa.org (https://hiowaa.org) • HIOWAA on Facebook: facebook.com/hiowaa • HIOWAA on LinkedIn and Instagram: @HIOWAA Get involved: • Listen to The Charity Show on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or your favourite platform • Email us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ (mailto:[email protected]) • Send a voice message to TheCharityShow • Find every link you need: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/thecharityshow⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Enjoyed the episode? Leave a five-star review and follow/subscribe to support the show! 💡 If you enjoyed this episode, hit follow or subscribe on your podcast app, and please leave us a five-star rating — it helps more people find conversations with real charity experts across the UK. This episode is produced by The Good Studio – Creating great content for good causes. From podcasts and campaigns to film and copywriting, The Good Studio helps charities tell powerful stories that make people care.👉 Find out more at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.thegoodstudio.co.uk⁠⁠⁠ (http://www.thegoodstudio.co.uk)