This article relates to December 2020. Please refer to the latest news for current updates

The Student Media Team at Exeter University and their international peers from across the Atlantic at the Ontario College of Art & Design University (OCAD) and Simon Fraser University, have teamed up with Devon Air Ambulance on a brand-new venture.

The group, who are Exeter University students and students belonging to a Canadian student group called the New Kid Collective, have a wealth of creative talent between them.

The team first approached the charity hoping to gain some valuable experience by producing advertising footage to support the local life-saving service, while show-casing their creative skills.

Devon Air Ambulance was beginning to make plans for an advertising campaign that would attract a younger age group and felt that a collaboration with the students could give them first-hand insight into the demographic.

Ginette Gisborne, who led the project on behalf of DAA, said:

We are so pleased to have had the opportunity to work with such a professional, creative and genuinely talented group of students on this project. From the initial brief, they took on board the message we wanted to convey and carried out the necessary research on which they based their designs. They kept us fully informed throughout the whole process and should be very proud of what they have achieved.

The campaign delivers an important message about the service: the highly-trained medical team onboard the Air Ambulance can provide the same level of care at the scene that a patient would not otherwise receive until arriving at a hospital Intensive Care Unit. Being able to administer this enhanced level of treatment when every second counts can make all the difference to the outcome of the patient concerned.

Exeter Student Daiki Shinomiya said:

It has been an honour for everyone on the team to work alongside such an important charity. We reached out to the Devon Air Ambulance earlier this term with the hopes of helping a charity impacted by COVID, and to provide an invaluable opportunity for students around the world, regardless of their academic background. From creating mood boards to designing illustrations and motion graphics, our team’s collaboration across the globe allowed us to approach this advert with a diverse range of creativity, ultimately aiming to raise awareness of Devon Air Ambulance and their inspiring work.

OCAD Student Louise Delfin added:

It was such a pleasure to collaborate with Daiki and the Student Media Team to use our talents for such a great cause. Although we live hours apart, our weekly virtual calls made us feel like close neighbours who not only work together, but I also found it fun to catch up with the other side of the world! It was definitely a great achievement to be a part of this project.

At a time when funds within charitable organisations are suffering due to the impact of Covid-19, and expenditure is severely limited, it is important to remember that many of us have skills and expertise that we can lend freely to others.

This partnership proved to be successful and the finished video is now live on big screens at the Guildhall Shopping Mall in Exeter, and at both Exeter St. David’s and Exeter Central Railway Stations with a request for donations. All you need to do is Text the word FLY to 70480 to donate just £3 - see image for more details*.

*You’ll be opting in to hear more about our work and fundraising via telephone and SMS. If you’d like to give £3 but do not wish to receive marketing communications, please text FLYNOINFO to 70480.