09/04/2026
Awesome news! 🚁
New helipad funding announcement!
We are pleased to announce we have made a £553,000 donation to cover the total cost for the construction of a new emergency helipad on the Isle of Arran in Scotland, significantly enhancing access to urgent medical care for island residents and visitors.
The project will enable faster and more reliable patient transfers to mainland hospitals, improving outcomes in critical situations where time is vital. Construction is expected to begin shortly, with the helipad scheduled to be fully operational around October 2026.
Commenting on the announcement, Robert Bertram, Chief Executive of the HELP Appeal said:
“Over 150 air ambulance landings take place every year, currently on a field where the only road ambulance on the island can become stuck in mud and patients have to be carried to the helicopter. It is totally unsatisfactory and thanks to Kenny Bone for gifting the land, we are delighted to fund this helipad which will make a tangible and lasting difference to patient care on the island. For the past six years we have been supporting Dougie Robertson and Graeme Brown who devised the need and now we are very much looking forward to seeing work begin and to having the helipad fully operational before the end of the year.
“This will be the 11th helipad out of a total of 21 we have funded or are funding across Scotland. Each project reflects our commitment to improving emergency access to lifesaving care, particularly in more remote communities.
“The impact of an emergency helipad on Arran cannot be overstated. With a dedicated helipad, patients can be transferred swiftly and safely, meaning they are only minutes away from Kilmarnock Hospital or the major trauma centre in Glasgow rather than facing potentially lengthy and unpredictable journeys by ferry. This rapid access can be the difference between life and death and we are proud to support a project that will bring such vital benefits to the people of Arran.”
The new helipad forms part of the HELP Appeal’s ongoing mission to fund vital infrastructure that improves emergency medical access across the Great Britain, at NHS hospitals and in rural and island communities.
📸 (L-R) Dougie Robertson and Graeme Brown of Arran Emergency Services Helipad charity, HELP Appeal Chief Executive Robert Bertram, and Arran farmer and businessman, Kenneth Bone who provided the land at Glenkiln, Lamlash.
