THE TEAM at a multi-award-winning Somerset Farm Shop has decided to continue fundraising for Dorset & Somerset Air Ambulance (DSAA) for another 12 months (November 2025).
Rumwell Farm Shop has been supporting the organisation as its 2025 Charity of The Year through various fundraising and awareness generating activities and it will continue to do so in 2026.
Sophie Mitchell, Partner at the Farm Shop, which is located on the A38 between Taunton and Wellington, explains: “DSAA has recently announced exciting plans to expand and enhance its life-saving service to allow it to reach even more patients and save more lives.
“When we heard about its new 2ndHeli Appeal to raise £1 million towards the purchase of a second helicopter, we wanted to help, so will continue supporting the charity for a further 12 months.
“By combining the use of its charitable funds with public fundraising like ours, DSAA will be able to continue providing Dorset and Somerset residents with the care that they need and deserve – care that is not otherwise available outside a hospital.
“Throughout 2025, we’ve been donating proceeds from the sale of every box of our large eggs to the charity and also from every bag of our potatoes. Plus, we’ve hosted some fundraising days and quizzes. From our 2025 efforts and the support our customers, we hope we’ve raised at least £3,000 for the organisation. We’re still fundraising at the moment and will reveal in January how much we’ve collected for DSAA in 2025. We will also continue with our egg and potato fundraising initiatives in 2026 and host more events with proceeds going to charity.”
DSAA was tasked with nearly 3,000 missions last year, reaching thousands of patients. However, as demand for this critical care service continues to rise, the costs do too.
It recognises that approximately 10% more patients require assistance but can’t be reached due to aircraft unavailability and that also between 2am and 7am, there is no pre-hospital critical care in Dorset and Somerset.
A total of £30 million from the charity’s reserves has been allocated to fund the purchase and fit out of a second helicopter, the redevelopment of DSAA’s operational base and key modernisation projects.
These commitments will also ensure the charity is able to retain financial security while preparing for potential 24-hour operations in the future, given the ongoing additional cost that would entail.
Charlotte Humber, Supporter Engagement Officer for Somerset from DSAA, says: “The care we provide is only made possible because of the generosity of the public. Every mission is funded by donations. Without this support, our service wouldn’t exist.
“It’s wonderful to have been selected by Rumwell Farm Shop as their Charity of the Year for another 12 months. The designated money from our reserves is not expected to cover the full costs needed for all our development plans and we will need further public fundraising alongside these investments.
“With operational costs continuing to rise, we’re looking to grow our income streams while engaging with the public on the various ways their support can make a difference. Therefore, our ongoing partnership with Rumwell Farm Shop represents a great opportunity for us to raise some of these vital funds, while also generating awareness of the lifesaving work that we do.”
For more information, please call Rumwell Farm Shop on 01823 461599 or visit www.rumwellfarmshop.com.
