Funding crisis for Blood Bikes
NABB says groups have seen normal cash sources dry up
UK Blood Biking charities could collectively lose between £170,000 and £200,000 every month according to the Chairman of the Nationwide Association of Blood Bikes, John Stepney.
Despite many groups now providing voluntary 24/7 support to the NHS, the groups have been forced to shutdown much of their fund-raising, which relies heavily on social gatherings, due to the virus crisis.
“Most of the revenue we get is from people coming together; whether that be in the form of a talk to people like the Women’s Institute, a black-tie dinner or standing in places like supermarkets and football stadiums collecting donations,” Stepney explained. “Some groups won’t collect as much as £5000 and some will do better than that,” the Milton Keynes rider continued. “I would be comfortable in saying the community could be losing between £170,000 and £200,000 per month due to the lockdown.”
Operating as charities across the UK, Blood Bike groups provide voluntary transport services between hospitals and to some air ambulance charities. “We are a dedicated and passionate volunteer force that provide a service to the NHS to a professional standard, free of charge,” he continued. “We’ve moved everything from surgical instruments to human donor milk – it’s phenomenal.”
Charities were recently given emergency financial support, with road tax on service vehicles scrapped from April 1 and free fuel offered across BP’s 1200-strong network of forecourts until at least the end of the month. Private donations can be made to individual Blood Bike groups through their local websites.