About Us
We aim to educate the public on what we do, often giving talks to groups or standing at events or supermarkets. Donations are always welcome, to help us continue doing what we do.
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What and Who Are Blood Bikers?
We are a group of volunteers and we either:
Answer calls from the hospitals and dispatch riders or ride motorcycles to collect and deliver urgently needed whole blood, platelets, samples for analysis, medication, patient notes, small medical instruments, donor breast milk, etc., between NHS hospitals without charging the hospitals.
We simply try to make the public aware of what we do, often by giving talks to groups or standing at events or supermarkets. Donations are always welcome, to help us continue doing what we do.
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Why Do We Do It?
To save the NHS Hospitals money, which would normally be used to pay for taxis, leaving that money to be spent on better patient care, or to provide newer, up to date, specialist equipment.
Many of us have either had help from the hospitals, personally or within our own families, or we simply want to help. Riders love motorcycling, even in the depths of winter although there are times when a motorcycle would be dangerous, i.e. Ice and snow, so many riders then use their own cars.
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When Do We Do It?
With the exception of delivering Donor Breast Milk during daytime hours, we normally operate out of normal working hours, when the NHS transport staff is unavailable, mainly through the night and 24 hours at weekends and Bank Holidays. However, we occasionally help other Blood Bike groups during the working day to and form part of a relay, or at the request of our hospitals.
We began operating in May 2012 and have saved the local NHS Hospitals millions of pounds already.
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How Do We Do It?
Our Controllers work from home using their own landline phone, mobile phone and computer to receive calls, then dispatch a Rider.
Many riders use their own bikes, or cars if the weather is so bad that a bike would be dangerous.
All our Riders undergo assessment rides by professional motorcycle instructors before they can ride for us.
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What is Our Aim?
We already work closely with the Police, Ambulance, and Fire & Rescue Services, and our aim is to have a dedicated and professional body of volunteers.
Meet Our Growing Team
Want to know more about the people behind North West Blood Bikes, meet our dedicated and hard-working team.
300
Riders
25
Controllers
25
Drivers
50
Fundraisers
How Can You Volunteer?
With the ever-increasing need for the NHS to save money, the demands upon the charity grow each year. This growth is limited by our ability to fund and maintain the service and the need for more volunteers. Our volunteers are incredibly committed but there is always more we can do so we are constantlyy on the lookout for more people to join us. If you can help, please go to the “Contact Us” page on the website.
Riders
Riders are able to use their own bikes or our liveried fleet bikes
All motorcycle riders are welcome to join, with a few requirements. Your bike must be roadworthy, equipped with hard case panniers or a top box, and capable of carrying hospital deliveries—soft panniers or bags aren’t allowed. Riders need at least 12 months of fully licensed experience and must pass an assessment ride.
We support riders in becoming Advanced Riders. If you hold a valid Advanced Rider certificate (completed or renewed within the last 3 years), you may qualify to ride a liveried blood bike after showing dedication to the charity. NWBB L&L transports medical items between hospitals from 7:00 pm to 2:00 am Monday to Thursday, and from 7:00 pm Friday to 2:00 am Monday, with 12-hour shifts on weekends. The minimum commitment is two shifts per month (24 shifts per year).
Drivers
We currently have a selection of drivers that will transport items via car
Although primarily a motorcycle service, North West Blood Bikes Lancs & Lakes recruit volunteer car owner/drivers to help out with Regular Runs, in our West Lancashire area only. Here they will transport urgent items between the hospitals. (Ormskirk to Southport at 22:00 and Southport to Whiston at 22:30.)
Volunteers are only obliged to do two shifts each month. for most of the time these regular runs are carried out by motorcycle volunteers, but there is a need for drivers with cars. This then frees the motorcycles to handle the short-notice and unexpected calls. If you feel you can help out, please complete our driver form from the link below. You must have a full car driving licence with no more than 6 penalty points and the car must be fully insured for carrying items for NWBB Lancs & Lakes and the NHS. Your car must conform to all legalities and be roadworthy.
Controllers
Dispatching/coordinating riders
Controllers manage shifts, take calls, and dispatch riders to fulfill hospital requests across Lancashire and South Cumbria. This role is rewarding, involving problem-solving, coordination, and a bit of humor.
Controllers work from home, answering hospital calls, dispatching riders, and ensuring their safe return. Basic computer skills, familiarity with spreadsheets, stable Wi-Fi, and access to two phones are required. Shifts last 6-8 hours on evenings and weekends, with a minimum commitment of two shifts per month. Training and support are provided. If interested, please fill out the enquiry form for more details.
Fundraisers
Organise events, selling merchandise, collecting donations
The role of Fundraiser is invaluable. We are a registered Charity and our source of income to run the service we provide comes from donations or fundraising events. These events range from shows, like The Grand opening of Ghost Bikes in Preston, Black Tie Dinner Dances for corporate sponsors, and even the Preston Guild celebration. We also collect outside supermarkets where we get to meet loads of interesting people. Your ideas would always be welcome as there is no limit (appart from decency and good taste) to the initiatives that can be deployed to present our activities to the public and encourage them to provide the funds that are vital for our operations..
Any support you can offer either on a one-off event or by joining the team, will help us to be able to continue to offer our important and very needy service to the NHS. shorten this
