Farmers have helped raise £5,000 to support the life-saving work of air ambulance charities in rural communities by renewing their energy contracts.
NFU Energy made the donation on behalf of 224 farmers who participated in its recent “Renew your energy and help save lives” buying group in partnership with Yü Energy, who also facilitated the funds.
The buying group used its collective bargaining power to negotiate exclusive bulk prices on energy, giving members a chance to save on their gas or electricity renewals while also making a difference.
Buying group
For every eligible contract renewed through the scheme, Yü Energy contributed towards a collective donation, which reached a total value of £5,000, said Joshua Robinson, head of utility contract sales at NFU Energy
“We are proud to support the life-saving work of air ambulance charities on behalf of the farmers who took part in this buying group. This is a cause that came about from consultation with our farmers and resonates strongly across rural communities.
“The level of participation shows how powerful collective action can be. We are excited to build on this success with future campaigns and support air ambulance charities in more regions of the UK.”
Air ambulances make up a critical emergency care lifeline in many rural communities, where emergency response times can be longer and rapid access to care can be the difference between life and death.
Public generosity
Sally Newman, from the Air Ambulance Service said: “Despite one-in-four people knowing someone who needed the help of an air ambulance, very few people realise that we are charities that receive no NHS funding and rely on public generosity.
“Helicopters, and rapid response vehicles, take doctors and paramedics to patients in the fastest time possible, and in an accident at a rural location that time saved can make all the difference to a patient’s chance of survival.”
Chris Broadbent, Sales Director at Yü Energy said: “Together we enabled customers to make a real difference through their energy choices, helping fund faster, life-saving medical responses when they are needed the most.”
For more information about NFU Energy, visit www.nfuenergy.co.uk