Our friends at Rumwell Farm Shop raised £5,500 for Dorset & Somerset Air Ambulance in 2025 and hope to collect even more this year.
The shop named DSAA as its 2025 Charity of The Year and, with the help of its customers, supported it with various activities and will continue its patronage in 2026.
Sophie Mitchell, partner at the farm shop on the A38 between Taunton and Wellington, said: “We’re so delighted to have raised so much with the help of our teams and customers and to have recently presented DSAA with our cheque for £5,500.
“Throughout 2025, we held some fundraising days and quizzes. So far this year, we’ve hosted a January quiz and have many more organised for the rest of the year, including a spring one in April and a new Christmas theme one in November.
“We will also be giving a donation from every sale of sherbet lemons and lemon doughnuts in 2026.
“Coming up next is a Charity Day during the Easter school holidays on April 9th when staff from DSAA will be onsite. We’ve a few fun ideas planned for that one and we’ll be revealing more nearer the time.”
Rumwell Farm Shop decided to continue supporting DSAA this after the charity announced its plans to expand and enhance its lifesaving service to allow it to reach even more patients and save more lives.
Sophie added: “When we heard about its new 2ndHeli Appeal to raise £1 million towards the purchase of a second helicopter, we wanted to help.
“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.”
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 ten per cent 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 which would entail.
Charlotte Humber, Supporter Engagement Officer for Somerset from DSAA, said: “We’re so grateful for this brilliant £5,500 donation from Rumwell Farm Shop and its customers.
“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 was wonderful to have been selected by Rumwell Farm Shop as their Charity of the Year for 2025 and even more amazing that they are sticking with us 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.
PHOTO: Members of the Rumwell Farm Shop team including partners Anne Mitchell and Sophie Mitchell (holding cheque) with Charlotte Humber.