EEAA could have to dip into their reserves- as fuel and energy prices surge
The charity insist they currently have no plans to realign how and when they work- despite the unprecedented economic climate.
The East Anglian Air Ambulance (EEAA) say they'll be forced to dip into their reserves soon, if they don't get help with the rising cost of fuel
But the charity which covers Norfolk, Suffolk and Bedfordshire insist they currently have no plans to realign how and when they work- despite the unprecedented economic climate.
They're now paying 100p a litre for aviation fuel , this being nearly double what they were paying this time last year.
"We are expecting that our revenue will be less than our costs"
Matthew Jones is their CEO.
He says the short-term picture doesn't look great, but they can weather the storm alone, for now:
"We have tried to be relatively prudent in our budget this year, expected quite a rise in our costs and set relatively low expectations for our income. We are expecting that our revenue will be less than our costs, so we will be eating into reserves that were set aside in previous years".
"Clearly we can't dip into those reserves in an indefinite basis, they are there to support us in the short-term and if we deplete them too much that becomes a real problem for us and we will have to then realign. But, we are not at that stage yet and of course when we do dip into our reserves- we then have to rebuild them for the next rainy day".
"I have concerns for our staff and their ability to get through the winter"
He says his worries stretch beyond how the service itself will cope:
"I have concerns for our staff and their ability to get through the winter. They will find the costs of heating their homes, powering their electrical equipment and all things associated with energy, very tough this winter. So, on an individual level if there is any way the Government could support us, I and everyone else here would really appreciate that."