HELP Appeal Chairman Michael Henriques awarded MBE

Michael Henriques, Chairman of the County Air Ambulance Trust HELP Appeal, has been awarded a MBE in recognition of his outstanding contribution to charitable service. 

Michael Henriques MBE has served as Chairman since 2018, after bringing with him more than two decades of senior leadership experience, including 22 years as Deputy Chairman of Cheltenham Racecourse and as a Jockey Club Member. Since his appointment, he has played a pivotal role in accelerating the charity’s growth and impact, helping to ensure critically ill patients can be delivered by air directly to hospital Emergency Departments without delay through the construction and upgrade of state of the art hospital helipads. 

Founded in 2009, the HELP Appeal was established to address a vital but often overlooked gap in emergency care: the lack of hospital helipads at NHS hospitals. While the UK has dedicated air ambulance crews and hospital teams working tirelessly to save lives, too many critically ill patients have historically faced dangerous delays because helicopters were unable to land close to emergency departments. 

Under Michael Henriques’ leadership, the charity has supported more than 33,000 helicopter landings at 57 HELP Appeal funded helipads across the country. It has also funded air ambulance bases across the country and over 40 critical care cars. A further 40 new hospital helipads and upgrades are currently planned, extending the charity’s lifesaving reach even further. 

The HELP Appeal is the only charity in the country dedicated to funding hospital helipads. Thanks to public generosity, it has delivered brand new helipads, upgraded existing sites, introduced state-of-the-art firefighting systems, enabled night flying through advanced lighting, and installed heated helipads to ensure safe landings in freezing conditions. 

Commenting on receiving the award, Michael Henriques MBE said: 

“I am deeply honoured to receive this MBE. This award shines a spotlight on the critical importance of hospital helipads. We have the air ambulances and the hospitals, but without helipads beside Emergency Departments, precious minutes can be lost. Those minutes can mean the difference between life and death. Thanks to the public’s generosity, the assistance of a wonderfully proactive Chief Executive, Robert Bertram and an efficient board of Trustees, we have made enormous progress, but there is still much more to do.” 

Despite significant advances, the need remains urgent. Many NHS hospitals still require helipads or essential upgrades to existing helipads to ensure patients can receive the fastest possible access to emergency care.

 With continued public support, the HELP Appeal will remain focused on its mission: ensuring that every critically ill patient flown to hospital can land safely, swiftly and as close to lifesaving treatment as possible.