Emergency funding for air ambulance charities welcomed by Scotland's Charity Air Ambulance

Scotland's Charity Air Ambulance (SCAA) welcomes today's news that it will benefit alongside fellow UK air ambulance charities from part of a £6 million emergency support grant from the Government.

The funding being paid to the national charity Air Ambulances UK will help support SCAA and 20 other sister organisations in England, Wales and Northern Ireland as they face a drop in fundraising income during the Covid-19 pandemic. The welcome measures are part of today's Government announcement that £22 million is being awarded to life-saving health charities during this time.

David Craig, Chief Executive of Scotland's Charity Air Ambulance (SCAA), said it was a very encouraging response from the AAUK and the Government to take direct action in support of the nation's air ambulance charities.

"It costs around £4 million a year to sustain our two life-saving helicopter operations," he said, "and our frontline crews have been operational seven days a week as normal throughout this lockdown period to respond to the needs of those seriously ill or injured in Scotland.

"Like every other charity, our ability to fundraise at what is normally our busiest and most productive time of year will undoubtedly result in a substantial reduction in income," explained Mr Craig. "The amount we will receive through the AAUK distribution of funds has still to be announced but it will help to mitigate the funding gap we face in the coming months and is extremely welcome."

Mr Craig stressed, however, that the continued support of the Scottish public would be SCAA's strongest ally in these difficult times.

"It is the Scottish public that ensures our service stays in the air and they who have contributed £30 million in the past seven years to sustain this life-saving charity," he said. "We can only continue to provide our vital emergency response to communities all across Scotland and our many islands thanks to the public's unfailing support, for which we are truly grateful."