NatWest Cymru has announced it will extend its Charity partnership with Wales Air Ambulance after raising enough money to cover the cost of nine lifesaving missions.

Staff were asked last year to vote for their chosen Charity. Wales Air Ambulance was part of the shortlist and received almost 60% of the final vote.

“We’ve had such a fantastic year working in partnership with Wales Air Ambulance, learning about what it does and understanding why it is important” said Jessica Shipman, Chair for NatWest Cymru Regional Board.

The pan-Wales leadership board supports staff and customers in Wales.

Jessica continued: “This is the first time our franchise in Wales has been able to choose its own Charity and we are so proud to be able to hand over a cheque for £31,650.

“Every part of Wales can benefit from the services Wales Air Ambulance provides.”

She added: “People might see that amount and think this is a big bank, with big purse strings, but I can honestly say every single penny raised was through our staff volunteering.

“There were bucket collections, fundraising events and we could not have done it without the support of our family, friends and wonderful customers.”

Jessica said: “At NatWest we are about supporting communities, helping people thrive and sometimes we can even change lives with the work that we do. There are natural synergies between us and Wales Air Ambulance.

“That is why we have decided to extend our partnership with this incredible lifesaving service into 2026, as it prepares to mark its 25th anniversary.”

Jessica says, ‘partnerships like this have a powerful impact on both individual and business growth.’

She said: “This partnership has brought all our staff together so that we all point in one direction. When you all strive for a common cause, it has a massive impact, as you can see from the amount we raised.

“It has been so interesting to see the ripple effect it has had across all our divisions. Everybody is talking about it. What is particularly moving, is how so many people have shared their stories of how the service has touched their lives.

“It means we cannot stop; we need to keep going, because there is more that we can do for the Charity.”

Over the past twelve months NatWest Cymru staff have done a variety of activities from abseiling down a church in Rhyl, to skydiving from a plane in Swansea.

“It’s been great fun!” says Kirstin Jenkins, who is the Local Director for North and West Wales branch banking, and Deputy Chair for the NatWest Cymru Regional Board.

She said: “Everyone has really rallied together and come up with some outstanding ideas to help us raise awareness and as much money as we can.”

The team in Brecon held a coffee and cake event to coincide with the Jazz Festival and Wales Air Ambulance was at the start and finish line for the Team GB Baton Relay.

Kirstin said: “The most surprising thing for all of us when we started on this journey, was learning that Wales Air Ambulance relies totally on its fundraisers and supporters.

“That was a big motivation for all of us. It has been fantastic to see how everyone has got behind our Charity partnership and wants it to continue for another year.

“They understand how Wales Air Ambulance could impact their life tomorrow if they needed it. That has helped to drive the focus within our teams.

“We are passionate about fundraising for something that makes such a huge difference to people in Wales.”

Gemma Yorke, Director of Business Banking for NatWest said: “Co-ordinating five hundred people, getting them involved in different things has been an incredible achievement!

“We are split into many different divisions, but we have all collaborated across the piece to come together to support Wales Air Ambulance.

“It’s been so rewarding that the staff have been able to get behind the Charity that they have chosen.”

A big part of the work that NatWest Cymru has done over the past year has been around raising awareness about the service.

Gemma added: “It has been very emotive to be able to share past patients’ stories, like Alan who joined us for our quiz night at The Ivy in Cardiff.

“We had eighty professionals in the room, so it was important to give them more insight into the work of the service.

“Everyone sees the helicopter in the sky, but do they really stop and think what is happening?

“We hope through our extended Charity partnership that we can inform more people about the role of the Wales Air Ambulance and raise more money to help save lives.”

The Wales Air Ambulance is consultant-led, taking hospital-standard treatments to the patient and, if required, transferring them directly to the most appropriate hospital for their illness or injury.

It is delivered via a unique third sector and public sector partnership. The Wales Air Ambulance Charity relies on public donations to raise the £13 million required every year to keep the helicopters in the air and rapid response vehicles on the road.

The Emergency Medical Retrieval and Transfer Service (EMRTS) supplies highly skilled NHS consultants and critical care practitioners who work on board the Charity’s vehicles.

This advanced critical care includes the ability to administer anaesthesia, deliver blood transfusions and conduct minor operations, all at the scene of an incident.

As a pan-Wales service, its dedicated crews, regardless of where they are based, will travel the length and breadth of the country to deliver emergency lifesaving care.

Abi Pearce, Corporate Partnerships Manager said: “NatWest Cymru is a building a legacy for the people of Wales, to ensure that we are there for patients when they need us most.

“We are profoundly grateful for the outstanding £31,650 raised! That is the equivalent to the cost of nine lifesaving missions.

“It has been an incredible 12 months of collaboration where we have zig zagged across Wales, to keep up with the wonderful fundraising activities.

“We are delighted that the journey will continue into 2026, with the extension of the Charity partnership, as we celebrate our 25th anniversary.”