Lia's Wings

Who we are

Lia’s Wings is a national charity that provides hospital air transfers for children. We ensure that babies and critically ill children can access specialist treatment and care, wherever they are in the UK.

Since our inception in 2010, our charity has established a strong reputation for flying babies and children to hospitals in the UK and, increasingly, from abroad. We work in partnership with air ambulance providers and NHS transport teams throughout the UK to provide this vital bed to bed service, using aeroplanes. We provide funding, state-of-the-art medical equipment and training for medical staff, to ensure transformational outcomes for children and their families. We are proud that as a result of our air transfers children have been discharged from long hospital stays, overcome diseases like cancer, and received a diagnosis which finally enables their family to gain new support from disease/disability specific organisations.

Alongside our air transfers, we provide holistic care for the whole family to ensure improved outcomes for both the child and their support network. Each family referred to Lia's Wings receives bespoke support that caters for the individual needs of their child and their family's circumstances. ​Our support continues for as long as each family needs us.

Our culture and values

We are a small, and very close team who are passionate about changing children's lives. We are always looking for more ways to grow our charity, and there is never a challenge too big, or a problem too small for us.

We are proud to achieve so much for so many families across the UK, and we are committed to continue our work, so that we never have to say "no" to a child (and their family) who needs us. 

Our charity is named after an incredibly special young girl called Lia. Lia is the daughter of our Trustees, Patrick and Melissa Schoennagel. Lia lived her short life to the fullest but suddenly passed away, aged only five years. Since her passing, we have managed an incredible amount in her name, and Lia's legacy continues to grow every day. 

Lia's Wing's values are to be: 

- VALIANT: We are big-hearted, pioneering and speak up for the families that need our help.

- BRILLIANT: We are passionate and committed, and value every partnership that helps us transform children's lives.

- RELIABLE: We listen and respond to what families need for however long they need us.

Lia is right at the heart of our values, and through living them every day - and remembering them with every family we support - we build our behaviours, attitudes, partnerships, future recruitment, and decision-making. In celebration of Lia's life.

Equality, diversity and inclusion policy

Lia's Wings is committed to encouraging equality and diversity among our workforce, and eliminating unlawful discrimination. 

The aim is for our workforce to be truly representative of all sections of society and of our beneficiaries, and for each employee to feel respected and able to give their best.  

Lia's Wings has an EDI policy in place, which is updated annually.