CHARITIES

Thames Valley & Chiltern Air Ambulance Trust

The Thames Valley Air Ambulance provides a life saving service seven days a week, 365 days a year, covering three counties: Berkshire, Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire. There are, however, no boundaries and they often get called to neighbouring counties.
June marks the charity's 10th year of operation. The only way they can continue to offer the vital service is through £2 million a year funding. This is generated through fundraising and donations of which they heavily rely on the general public to help with. Their motto is 'We rely on you so you can rely on us.'

Facts about the Thames Valley Air Ambulance

- Is on call seven days a weeks, 365 days a year
- Operational across the three counties every day
- Can be operational within 3 minutes
- Has a top speed of approximately 150 mph
- Can land in the area half the size of a tennis court
- Up to 50% oof our missions are road traffic accidents
- Carries a patient and a carer

But

- Costs are on average £165,000 a month
- £2 million a year to operate the seven day service
- Receives NO funding from Central Government or the National Lottery

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MS Therapy Centre Oxford

MS Therapy Centre Oxfordshire are a small registered charity, affiliated to the Federation of Multiple Sclerosis Therapy Centres. There are more than 60 centres around the UK; the Oxford centre was founded 25 years ago in 1984.

Their aim is to provide affordable and accessible complementary therapies, often not available on the NHS as well as provide information and support, to those with MS. They strive to offer a warm and caring environment - somewhere where people can go for a chat or a drink, as well as the complementary therapy.

Centre facilities

Based on Milton Park, between Abingdon and Didcot the Centre has three treatment rooms, where therapies take place.  The main reception and social area provides space for a cup of tea and a chat.  It also has a PC point where members can browse the web or check their email.

The Hyperbaric Oxygen chamber was installed in 1984 and provides oxygen at high pressure.  The chamber is run by a number of trained volunteers, running scheduled sessions.  Oxygen therapy is available for people without MS.

The MS centre have fairly recently added an Information Point, which provides a good selection of literature to Centre users - specifically selected for its relevance to those with MS.

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