M&S Rotherham

Action was founded in 1977 by a group of staff from South Yorkshire Probation Service who recognised that a significant proportion of offenders have vulnerabilities and housing related needs that contribute to their offending behaviour. Our original services involved the provision of housing and support for ex-offenders in order to provide a platform for a different, more stable way of life and therefore reduce recidivism. Over the last 15 years we have developed our services and our remit to work with a variety of complex and specialist groups of vulnerable people: such as those with substance misuse, mental illness, victims of abuse and young people. In addition to helping people secure and maintain accommodation we also facilitate personal development; access to other services and opportunities; support and opportunity to find meaningful occupation and overall to help people change their lives for the better: reducing the cycle of hopelessness, risky behaviour and homelessness. Action currently operates across Mansfield, Derby, Derbyshire, Sheffield and Rotherham where we have an excellent reputation for local service delivery and a wide network of contacts across the statutory and voluntary sector. We are a progressive organisation; always seeking new ways to help vulnerable people develop their skills and opportunities to build a better future for themselves and play a more positive role in their communities. Action’s ethos is to work holistically with each individual customer. We consider their strengths and aspirations, involve them in decisions and ensure that they lead in the development of their support plans. We always aim to work in partnership with other agencies, seeking to minimise the disruption and intrusiveness of repeated interventions and information gathering, whilst ensuring customer safety. Designed to recognise the emotional journeys and enormous achievements that customers make in overcoming significant disadvantage, our motto is ‘Enabling our customers to achieve extraordinary things’. We have a number of supported accommodation sites and dispersed accommodation in addition to floating support services.

The Children’s Air Ambulance began in 2012. After a lot of hard work, dedication and passion we began to transfer specialist paediatric teams to treat seriously ill children. This national service is the first and only dedicated helicopter transfer service for critically ill children – a flying intensive care unit. In May 2013 we transferred our very first baby to the emergency surgery he needed. We transported Theo to the care he so very badly needed in only 15 minutes. A journey that could have taken up to an hour by road. Since then we have gone on to achieve over 300 missions! The Children’s Air Ambulance is dedicated to helping children all across the UK get to the care and support they need. Fast. In fact, we can get children to the care they need 4 times faster than if they were to go by road. Our charity does not receive any government funding and provides all our services free of charge. We are driven by first class professionals, supported by a small army of volunteers and rely entirely on the generous donations of the public to fund our work. As we are not supported by government funds we rely on the kindness of people like you to donate to help keep us flying.