First Bus has launched a three-year charity partnership with Air Ambulances UK, the umbrella body for Britain’s air ambulance charities.

Air Ambulances UK was chosen after staff at the bus firm submitted their nominations for charities to support.

To mark the launch the firm has made an initial donation of £20,000 and will match fund money raised by staff over the next three years.

Staff will also volunteer and learn CPR skills during the partnership.

"Our colleagues told us they wanted a charity partnership that would make a real difference in the communities we serve, and Air Ambulances UK stood out as a cause that resonates across our business,” said First Bus chief sustainability and compliance officer Isabel McAllister.

"Every day, our people are out on the roads serving millions of customers, so we understand how vital these specialist emergency services are when every second counts.

“We're proud to support Air Ambulances UK and the 21 local air ambulance charities they represent, and we're looking forward to raising funds, volunteering our time and helping raise awareness together over the next three years."

Air Ambulances UK chief executive Mike McGrath added: “We're so delighted to be partnering with First Bus and incredibly grateful for their commitment to supporting Air Ambulances UK and the 21 air ambulance charities we serve and support.

“Every day, specialist teams respond to a lifesaving mission on average every 12 minutes across the UK, providing advanced pre-hospital care to people experiencing life-threatening illness or injury.

"As air ambulances rely almost entirely on public support, partnerships like this make an essential impact. As a First Bus colleague told me last week, this partnership just makes sense. It will help ensure these lifesaving services can be there whenever and wherever they are needed in every community.

"We look forward to working closely with First Bus to raise awareness of the vital role air ambulance charities play across the UK and to inspire support for this incredible cause."

---