WITH a new mascot called 'Pandamedic' and fresh branding, the North West Ambulance Service's very own charity has been launched today, Monday.

An NWAS charitable fund was established in 2008 to allow donations to be used effectively to support the service, whose work is over and above the core, NHS-funded work of NWAS.

And that charitable fund has now been developed into the new North West Ambulance Charity, which it is hoped will develop those fundraising activities and raise more money to pay for lifesaving equipment, education programmes and many other valuable projects.

These projects include the provision of vital lifesaving defibrillators, more than 100 of which have been installed in public places in the past year by the charity, and also schools education programmes, clinical training aids and health and wellbeing schemes to support hard working ambulance service staff.

“The goodwill of patients, the public, community groups and local businesses allows us to fund extra projects which can make a huge difference to so many people, both in the community and within NWAS," said the charity's development manager Vincent Sherard-Bornshin.

“With the official launch of North West Ambulance Charity, we’re asking people to make a small donation through our JustGiving page and keep the charity in mind for any upcoming fundraising events or ideas.

"Any contribution, big or small, can help us towards our goal of supporting staff and saving lives.”

To donate visit: www.justgiving.com/nwambulance