North West Air Ambulance
Analysis
North West Air Ambulance is a registered charity in England and Wales, based in Knowsley Industrial Park. It was registered in May 1999, 27 years ago. Its declared purposes cover the advancement of health or saving of lives, which this site groups under health and saving lives. Legally it is a charitable company (Companies House number 03752544). It says it provides services.
In the financial year ending March 2025, North West Air Ambulance reported income of £15.6m and spending of £16.1m, spending 103% of its income. Across the 5 years on record, from March 2021 to March 2025, income grew from £10.4m to £15.6m (+50%), an average of +11% a year. The sharpest change came in the year to March 2023, when income rose by 27%. Over the whole period it spent 96% of the income it received.
Among 24,651 England and Wales charities whose main cause is health and saving lives and that reported income, North West Air Ambulance sits at the 99th percentile: it is larger than about 99% of them. Against every charity in England and Wales with reported income it ranks in the 99th percentile. Charities of a similar size with the same main cause include Ashgate Hospicecare (£15.6m), St Gemma's Hospice (£15.7m) and City of Liverpool Young Men's Christian Association (Inc) (£15.5m).
In its latest detailed accounts, income came from trading 54%, donations and legacies 43% and investments 3.4%. Gifts in wills alone brought in £3.1m. Charitable activities took 62% of spending and raising funds 38%. Reserves of £20.5m would cover about 15 months of spending at that rate. It employed 106 people.
Income and spending
Where the income comes from
- Donations 23%
- Legacies 20%
- Trading 54%
- Investments 3.4%
In the charity's own words
The North West Air Ambulance Charity helicopters and HEMS (Helicopter Emergency Medical Service) response vehicles operate 365 days a year, with doctors and HEMS paramedics on board providing enhanced pre-hospital care and hospital transfers to patients across the entire North West. The charity is dedicated to the conservation and preservation of life, through services of an air ambulance.
Similar-sized charities, same cause
| Charity | Location | Income |
|---|---|---|
| Ashgate Hospicecare | Chesterfield | £15.6m |
| St Gemma's Hospice | Leeds | £15.7m |
| City of Liverpool Young Men's Christian Association (Inc) | Liverpool | £15.5m |
| The Royal College of Emergency Medicine | London | £15.7m |