The Cornwall Air Ambulance Trust has been awarded a £1 million grant from the Government funds known as LIBOR.

The grant will help the charity provide a new generation helicopter which will serve the community from Christmas 2019 for at least ten years, although the charity is emphasising that public fundraising will need to continue to grow in the future.

The grant confirmed by the Chancellor, Philip Hammond MP, in his Autumn Statement today, will be made by HM Treasury, from funds gathered from bank fines over recent years, and is not a grant from tax payers revenue. Military and rescue charities are among those entitled to submit an application for funding from Libor.

Cornwall Air Ambulance Trust chief executive, Paula Martin, said: “Everyday up to three people in Cornwall have a serious accident or fall seriously ill and need the air ambulance. For them and their families it is the worst time of their lives. The sound of the helicopter coming brings feelings of sheer and utter relief.

“The charity is thrilled to receive this grant from the Government, and the possibilities that are now open to us to bring one of the latest generation air ambulances to Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly.  The grant is step one of a complex process. The charity trustees are already examining the next steps, and will announce detailed plans next year.”