Ambulance charity in financial trouble

Guernsey's Ambulance and Rescue Service has been given a loan of half a million pounds by the States, it has been revealed.

The figure was published in the 2013 Budget.

In August, the charity announced that it was struggling financially and that its deficit had run to £800,000 at the end of last year.

Although the organisation is part-funded by government it also receives donations from the public.

Chief officer Jon Beausire said previously that the grant it is given by the States - £1.9m last year and around half its running costs - is not enough.

But with funding tight at Health and Social Services and the department's £1.5m overspend this year, the charity will be under pressure to balance its books.

Treasury said the loan was on the condition that HSSD submits a report to the States in the first half of 2013. That should recommend the future level of service provided and how it will repay the loan.

They should fund it all.this is a vital part of our emergency services ,they fund the police and fire brigade so why not the ambulance ?
if they take into account the amount of UNPAID hours the volunteers do it would cost many more thousands and many charity /sport .fun events would not be able to take place around the island .
I support the voluntry side as these folks give up many hours of their time . they are the one who train hard to be the service for tomorrow .

i agree kat it should be fully funded ...