AN AIR ambulance charity that provides its services across Gloucestershire and South Gloucestershire will receive £250,000 from Libor fines.


The Great Western Air Ambulance Charity (GWAAC) which needs to raise £2million each year to stay operational, is one of several air ambulance charities in the UK set to benefit from a £5 million fund from Libor fines.


This will help to ensure the vital lifesaving work the charity, with its helicopter based in Filton, carries out as part of the regional 999 emergency response service.


The funding, which was confirmed on Tuesday, February 24, will potentially equate to 800 more patients per year being saved nationally.


Representatives from the air ambulance charities visited Number 11 with a number of MPs to outline to the Chancellor George Osborne how the money would help.


GWAAC chief executive, John Christensen, said: “It was great to meet up with MPs Jack Lopresti, Charlotte Leslie and Chris Skidmore, who have been instrumental in helping us get this funding from the chancellor.


“I was delighted to be able to tell the Chancellor how important this funding is to us, and how it will help us continue to provide this vital, lifesaving service.


“For the first time since I started GWAAC our future is looking financially secure.”


The funding was confirmed at a meeting between Chancellor George Osborne and the national Association of Air Ambulances, whose charity will distribute the money among the 20 local air ambulance charities set to benefit.


The Chancellor said: “From enabling the fantastic air ambulance services to extend their flying hours, to helping build brand new specialist headquarters, this funding will play a vital role on helping to save hundreds of lives every year.


"It is absolutely right that we use funds from those who demonstrated the worst values to reward those who demonstrate the best, like our hardworking air ambulance crews.”


The GWAAC, formed in 2008, receives no funding from the government or the National Lottery and relies entirely on donations to continue operating.


To find out about the charity visit greatwesternairambulance.com.