Scotland’s Charity Air Ambulance (SCAA) has secured a major new charity partner, helping boost funds for the bid to launch a life-saving helicopter based in Aberdeen.
Pensions consolidator Standard Life Assurance will join forces with SCAA for the year ahead.
The firm has more than 6,000 employees who have been supporting the air ambulance cause since 2014 and the firm kicked off the new partnership with a donation of £31,000, raised through the company’s Christmas raffle and other initiatives.
Chief executive, Susan McInnes, said: “We’re delighted to be partnering with Scotland’s Charity Air Ambulance, which saves and improves lives across Scotland every day.”
SCAA is Scotland’s only charity air ambulance. It relies fully on donations for its operation but acts as a crucial part of Scotland’s emergency network.
Based at Perth Airport, SCAA can have a helicopter airborne within five minutes, reaching 90% of the country’s population within 25 minutes.
In November, Aberdeen was chosen to be the home of a second charity air ambulance, after a £6 million pound fundraising campaign was launched to cover the costs.
David Craig, Chief Executive at SCAA, said: “SCAA is delighted and honoured to be chosen as a charity partner by Standard Life Assurance.
“It’s a particularly significant year for our charity as we work towards launching our second helicopter air ambulance for the people of Scotland.”
SCAA hopes the new helicopter based in the Granite City will be active by the end of the year.
