Essex & Herts Air Ambulance unveiled a brand-new rapid response vehicle (RRV) and newly refurbished helipad at its Earls Colne airbase this week, thanks to funding from the HELP Appeal, the only charity in the country dedicated to funding helipads at NHS hospitals and air ambulance bases.

The grant of nearly £100,000 from the HELP Appeal has allowed Essex & Herts Air Ambulance to refurbish its existing helipad to ensure it continues to meet the latest aviation standards and remains fit for purpose – keeping the critical care teams flying.

The HELP Appeal-funded equipment, which is already fully operational, is helping the vital air ambulance service continue to deliver its life-saving pre-hospital care to critically ill or injured patients across Essex and Hertfordshire.

The new RRV means the charity now operates six Rapid Response Vehicles. RRVs are deployed at night or when the helicopters can’t fly due to bad weather or maintenance, ensuring Essex & Herts Air Ambulance can continue to respond quickly and safely to emergencies.

Like the air ambulances, each RRV is crewed by a pre-hospital care doctor and a critical care paramedic and carries the same life-saving equipment and medicine, bringing an advanced level of clinical care to the patient – far beyond that of a land ambulance or other emergency vehicle.

Last year the RRVs were called out over 1,400 times across the two counties, providing invaluable support to people facing life-threatening injuries and illnesses. Essex & Herts Air Ambulance uses Volvo XC90 plug-in hybrid SUVs as its RRVs, chosen for their speed, efficiency and capacity to carry life-saving medical equipment.

Commenting on the grant, Mark Jarman-Howe, CEO at Essex & Herts Air Ambulance, said:

“Our mission is to deliver the best pre-hospital care and this grant will play a big part in helping us continue to do that. It’s vital we have the latest equipment and facilities so we can get our teams to where they’re needed as quickly and efficiently as possible, no matter where, when or in what conditions. Rapid Response Vehicles play a critical role alongside the helicopters in our life-saving service and the crew is delighted with its new ride!”

Robert Bertram, Chief Executive of the HELP Appeal, said: 

“We are delighted to be able to help support Essex & Herts Air Ambulance providing emergency care in the region. By funding both their base helipad and a new critical care car, we’re helping lifesaving teams reach the most critically ill patients in the region. This is the first time the HELP Appeal has made such a significant investment in this area, and we’re incredibly grateful to our supporters for making this possible. We look forward to announcing more exciting helipad news during the year.”

In 2025 Essex & Herts Air Ambulance’s helicopters and RRVs attended 2,491 missions from road traffic collisions to accidental injuries and medical emergencies like cardiac arrest. With each mission costing around £2,800, the charity relies on the support of individuals and other funders like the HELP Appeal to keep its helicopters in the air and RRVs on the road. To find out more or to donate, please visit ehaat.org