Blood_Bikes_Wales Knowpia

Blood Bikes Wales
Type	Registered charity
Registration no.	1143352
Focus	NHS motorcycle courier
Location	Wales;
Area served	Wales
Website	bloodbikes.wales

Blood Bikes Wales is a blood bike charity based in Wales. Founded in 2011,^[2] it provides a free motorcycle courier service to NHS Wales hospitals across the country, operating a fleet of motorcycles which are ridden and co-ordinated by volunteers. Blood Bikes Wales is a member of the Nationwide Association of Blood Bikes (NABB) and co-operates with similar organisations in England.

Operations edit

Blood Bikes Wales was formed in 2011 and now has 23 bikes on the road in six of the local health boards in Wales:^[3] Swansea Bay University Health Board (Swansea) Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board (Merthyr Tydfil, Llantrisant) Hywel Dda (Carmarthenshire, Ceredigion and Pembrokeshire) Aneurin Bevan University Health Board (Newport, Caerphilly, Monmouthshire), Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board (Wrexham and Bangor),^[4]^[5] and Powys Teaching Health Board (Ceredigion, Newport, Swansea).^[6]

Operating between 7 pm and 10 am on weekdays and 24 hours at weekends and public holidays, the charity provides a service enabling hospitals to avoid the need to use taxis or commercial couriers, saving the NHS money.^[7]

During the COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom, the charity responded by temporarily extending its service to operate 24/7.^[8]

Accolades edit

In November 2019, Blood Bikes Wales was awarded the Organisation of the Year Award at the Wales Council for Voluntary Action (WCVA) Welsh Charities Awards.^[9]

On 2 June 2021, Blood Bikes Wales was awarded the Queen's Award for Voluntary Service,^[10]^[11] the highest award that can be given to a voluntary organisation in the United Kingdom and equivalent to an MBE. Blood Bikes Wales were also awarded an additional special designation for providing impactful support to their communities during the COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom.^[12]

References edit

^ "Charity Framework". Charity Commission. Retrieved 14 November 2011.
^ "Blood Bikes Wales volunteer hospital missions may spread". BBC News. Retrieved 10 February 2021.
^ "Bikers prove 'lifeblood' of vital out-of-hours service". Retrieved 10 February 2021.
^ "Mum speaks of emotional handover of Blood Bike to Wrexham team in memory of daughter". The Leader. Retrieved 10 February 2021.
^ "Blood delivery service sets up new home at Glan Clwyd Hospital". Rhyl Journal. Retrieved 10 February 2021.
^ "Blood Bikes service launched across Powys". Country Times. Retrieved 10 February 2021.
^ "Blood Bikes Wales riders saved the NHS £300,000 last year". Cambrian News. Archived from the original on 26 February 2017. Retrieved 10 February 2021.
^ "Blood Bikes Wales: supporting the NHS through Covid-19". Retrieved 10 February 2021.
^ "WCVA Organisation of the Year Award". Retrieved 10 February 2021.
^ "View 2021 Queen's Award for Voluntary Service awardees list" (PDF). The Queen's Award for Voluntary Service. The Cabinet Office. Retrieved 8 June 2021.
^ "Blood bikers recognised for hard work as Wrexham team receives new vehicle". The Leader. 3 June 2008. Retrieved 7 June 2021.
^ "View 2021 awardee groups that received special designation for pandemic support" (PDF). The Queen's Award for Voluntary Service. The Cabinet Office. Retrieved 8 June 2021.