Hailsham Mayor and Deputy Attend Air Ambulance Charity’s Civic Leader Event

The Hailsham Town Mayor and Deputy Mayor, Councillors Chris Bryant and Colin Mitchell, attended the KSS Air Ambulance Charity Civic Leaders Event in Redhill on Wednesday 21 January.

The event, hosted by the KSS (Kent Surrey Sussex) Air Ambulance Charity, welcomed civic and community leaders from across the South East to its Redhill base. The event focused on strengthening collaboration with local partners to improve community resilience, enhance emergency preparedness and increase support for the charity’s lifesaving work.

Mayors, Deputy Mayors, council leaders, Business Improvement District (BID) leaders and other local representatives met members of Team KSS and learned how collaborative working can help communities respond more effectively in emergency situations.

Attendees also gained a greater understanding of how the charity delivers a vital emergency service across the region through increased awareness and community support. It costs almost £21 million annually to provide the service, with only a very small part coming from the NHS.

Those attending were given an insight into the frontline operations of the only emergency air ambulance serving Kent, Surrey and Sussex. This included meeting doctors, paramedics and pilots and taking part in a guided tour of the base.

Discussions focused on practical opportunities for partnership, including the promotion of CPR and defibrillator training. Attendees also learned how communities can make a daily lifesaving difference by supporting KSS fundraising efforts which enable staff and volunteers to carry out emergency missions and improve local safety.

Speaking after the event, Town Mayor Councillor Chris Bryant said: “It was a privilege to attend the Civic Leaders Event and to see first-hand the exceptional work carried out by the KSS Air Ambulance Charity. The dedication and professionalism of the entire team is truly impressive, and their service plays a vital role in saving lives across our region.”

Deputy Mayor, Councillor Colin Mitchell, added: “The visit highlighted just how important partnership working and community support are to the continued success of KSS. Learning more about their operations and the opportunities to promote CPR and defibrillator training locally was extremely valuable and reinforces the difference communities can make.”

During 2024/25, KSS responded to more than 3,100 incidents, an average of nine each day, at a cost of approximately £57,000 per day. As an independent charity, almost all of its lifesaving missions are funded through the generosity of community supporters.

The KSS Air Ambulance Charity provides emergency medical services through a helicopter air ambulance covering Kent, Surrey, East Sussex and West Sussex. The service operates in association with the South East Coast Ambulance Service. The charity raises more than £15 million each year from public and private donations. Its aircraft are based and maintained at Redhill Aerodrome in Surrey, with its headquarters and forward operating base located at Rochester Airport in Kent.