£100,000 Donation Helps Hampshire And Isle Of Wight Air Ambulance Reach Final Airbase Fundraising Target

Hampshire and Isle of Wight Air Ambulance has received a £100,000 donation towards its new airbase near Southampton Airport.

The funding has been provided by the Bradbury Foundation and will support the creation of a dedicated training facility known as the “Bradbury Training Room”.

The new space will be used by doctors, pilots, dispatchers and paramedics to carry out realistic emergency response training designed to prepare crews for high-pressure incidents.

The charity says the facility will allow teams to practise complex scenarios and major incident response techniques in a purpose-built environment.

The training room will also be used alongside local ambulance services, NHS Trusts and emergency partners to support joint exercises and skills development.

In addition, the space will host the charity’s free “CPR Skills for Life” programme, which teaches members of the public how to perform CPR and use defibrillators.

More than 2,000 people took part in the sessions during 2025.

Rob Summerhayes said the facility would help crews prepare for “high tempo jobs” and ensure patients receive the very best care possible.

Construction of the new airbase is expected to be completed within the next few weeks.

The charity says more than 13,000 donors have now helped raise £3.5million towards the project, with a final £100,000 still needed to complete the build.

More information about the appeal can be found at HIOWAA Airbase Appeal.