Gates, a Ford dealer with branches in Stevenage and St Albans, is supporting Essex & Herts Air Ambulance for the fourth consecutive year, by providing a new vehicle to assist the charity in its life-saving work.

Representatives from Gates paid a visit to EHAAT’s airbase at North Weald, and were delighted to hand over the keys to a new Ford Kuga Plug-In Hybrid.

The vehicle, which carries EHAAT’s distinctive branding, will enable the team to travel between the charity’s two airbases, fundraising offices, and shops, as well as events across Essex and Hertfordshire.

The new Ford Kuga Plug-In Hybrid is the fourth vehicle presented by Gates and is a further step in EHAAT’s commitment to sustainability and reducing its environmental impact.

It joins the other hybrid vehicles used by the charity, which include two plug-in hybrid Rapid Response Vehicles purchased by the charity in February 2022.

Using the vehicles means that when the teams are making their vital journeys, they can seamlessly switch between electric and petrol with the touch of a button.

Pam Withrington, fundraising and marketing director at EHAAT, said: “As a charity which receives only limited funding from government, we rely heavily on the generosity of individuals and businesses such as Gates, and we are very thankful for their continued support especially during these challenging times.

"We are committed to making the very best choices not only for our patients, staff and the community but also for the environment, so we are extremely grateful to Gates for this generous gesture."

Simon Lewis, operations director at Gates of Harlow, said: “Having worked with EHAAT for a number of years now, we fully understand the importance of the service provided within our community.

"We are therefore delighted to continue our support and contribute towards the life-saving work being carried out on a daily basis.”