The Costs
It is often assumed the Ambulance is funded by either Aberdeenshire Council or the NHS,
but this is not the case. The only government funding we receive is a small grant from Transport Scotland to cover some of the fuel costs.
The majority of the funding comes by way of donations from individuals, local businesses, local community councils and more recently large companies
Community Funds. Those who use the Community Ambulance appreciate the service provided and most of them kindly give a small donation, which helps
cover some of the fuel costs.
The running costs of the Ambulance are in the region of £7,000 per year and this covers insurance, fuel, MOT, servicing, maintenance and certification of the tail lift. A new vehicle costs in the region of £50,000 to £60,000 and with no direct funding, we rely heavily on donations, without which the committee would experience difficulty in covering the annual running costs. If there are any surplus funds at the end of a financial year, the sum is transferred to the fund to purchase our next Ambulance.
In the course of a year the Ambulance travels approximately 14,000 miles and carries over 2,500 passengers. Most of the runs are short distances, which results in a high degree of wear and tear. This means the Ambulance needs to be replaced every 3 to 4 years.
We are extremely lucky to have local businesses who provide support for the Ambulance - Lethan Motors who carry out our maintenance and statutory checks, and William Nicol (Aberdeen) Ltd who look after the washing of our vehicle
If you feel you could help in any way by making a donation or volunteering your time, then the committee would like to hear from you,
so please contact David Walton on 07468 883289 or by e-mail at j.d.walton@btinternet.com
