Launching Scotland's First Wish Ambulance Service

Aim

We aim to provide people who are approaching the end of life with a clinically assisted Wish Journey, free of charge, to a place of meaning.

Every journey tells a story. Help us make one more possible.

Imagine being told that time is running short, yet being unable to visit your favourite beach, return home one last time, attend a family celebration or simply spend precious time somewhere that means the world to you because illness has made travelling impossible.

For many people living with serious illness, this is the reality.

Wish Ambulance Scotland exists to change that.

Our Vision

A Scotland where every person approaching the end of life has the opportunity to create one final meaningful memory with the people they love.

A Scotland where death, dying and bereavement are no longer hidden from conversation, but embraced with compassion, understanding and dignity.

Our Mission

Our mission is to improve the lives of people approaching the end of life by delivering free, compassionate and clinically supported Wish Journeys across Scotland.

Alongside this, we are committed to building compassionate communities through education, partnership and community engagement, helping people feel more confident supporting one another through illness, grief and loss.

Our Values

Compassion

Every person deserves kindness, dignity and respect, regardless of their circumstances.

Person-Centred Care

Every Wish Journey is unique. We place the wishes, values and needs of the individual at the heart of everything we do.

Community

We believe end-of-life care is not solely the responsibility of healthcare professionals, but of communities working together.

Excellence

We are committed to delivering safe, clinically governed and evidence-informed services.

Integrity

We will always act with honesty, transparency and accountability in everything we do.

Our Charitable Purposes

Our work is built around three charitable purposes.

Advancement of Health

Serious illness can make even the shortest journey impossible.

By providing specialist transport, clinical support and compassionate volunteers, we enable people approaching the end of life to safely visit places of personal significance, improving wellbeing, reducing isolation and creating lasting memories for families.

Advancement of Education

We believe that talking openly about death and dying helps people live, care and grieve more confidently.

Through community education, schools, healthcare partnerships and public engagement, we aim to improve death literacy across Scotland, encouraging more open and informed conversations around serious illness, bereavement and end-of-life care.

Relief of Those in Need

Families facing the end of life often experience emotional, practical and financial challenges.

Our Wish Journeys are provided free of charge, ensuring that no one misses the opportunity to fulfil a final wish simply because illness has made travel impossible.

Building Compassionate Communities

Wish Ambulance Scotland is proud to support the principles of the Compassionate Communities movement.

Compassionate Communities recognise that care at the end of life is everyone's responsibility—not just that of healthcare services. Neighbours, schools, workplaces, faith groups, businesses and volunteers all have an important role in supporting people experiencing illness, grief and loss.

Alongside our Wish Journeys, we aim to strengthen these local networks by encouraging practical acts of kindness, reducing loneliness and helping communities become more confident supporting one another during life's most difficult moments.

Towards a Compassionate Scotland

Our ambition extends beyond delivering Wish Journeys.

We want to help Scotland become one of the world's leading Compassionate Communities.

Working alongside local authorities, healthcare providers, schools, voluntary organisations and community groups, we hope to support the development of Compassionate Cities and Communities, inspired by the international Compassionate City Charter.

We intend to begin this work in Aberdeen, supporting the city's ambition to become a recognised Compassionate City before sharing learning and good practice with communities across Scotland.

Although our Wish Journey service will be piloted from Aberdeen, our charitable remit is national. From the outset, we will accept referrals from across Scotland as capacity allows, with the long-term ambition of ensuring every community can benefit from our service.

More Than an Ambulance

While Wish Journeys will always remain at the heart of our work, our ambition reaches much further.

We aim to:

• Deliver free clinically supported Wish Journeys.
• Improve death literacy throughout Scotland.
• Support Compassionate Communities.
• Deliver community education programmes.
• Develop intergenerational projects such as Reclaiming the Wisdom.
• Work alongside hospices, NHS services and third-sector organisations.
• Undertake research and service evaluation to improve end-of-life care.
• Inspire communities to talk more openly about death, dying and bereavement.

How You Can Help

Every donation helps build Scotland's first dedicated Wish Ambulance service.

Whether you choose to donate, volunteer, become a corporate partner or simply help spread our message, you are helping create a future where more people can experience dignity, connection and compassion at the end of life.

Together, we can help people make one more journey—and build a more compassionate Scotland.

Wish Ambulance Scotland SCIO is registered with the Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator (OSCR). Registration Number SC055546.

Funding method

Keep what you raise – this project will receive all pledges made by 15th September 2026 at 1:35pm