Barclays London Heliport welcomes launch of The Children’s Air Ambulance.

Tuesday 6th November 2012

The Barclays London Heliport was delighted to welcome the launch of The Children's Air Ambulance (TCAA) last week when Sloane Helicopters flew in their special liveried and dedicated AgustaWestland AW109S helicopter carrying Alex Toft, Director of Operations and Clinical Services of The Air Ambulance Service and TCAA ambassador Duran Duran star Simon Le Bon.

Simon Hutchins, Manager of the Reuben Brothers-owned Barclays London Heliport greeted the guests when the helicopter landed from Coventry Airport, the operations base of the TCAA. Applauding the initiative, The Reuben Foundation has pledged its support to The Children's Air Ambulance, commenting: "We recognise the crucial service provided by The Children's Air Ambulance across London and the UK and are pleased to give our support and welcome them to The Barclays London Heliport."

TCAA will transfer critically ill children from general hospitals to Paediatric Intensive Care Units across England and Wales, or help move specialist paediatric teams to enable children to receive the lifesaving, specialist treatment and care that they need as soon as possible, cutting transfer times.

Commenting on the launch, Alex Toft said: "It was a hugely exciting day for us. After months of planning, we're now entering a two month phase of training and fundraising - our crew will be visiting five children's transfer groups across the UK for familiarisation purposes - before beginning to undertake missions in early 2013."

Simon Le Bon commented: "The Children's Air Ambulance is a fantastic new service that is desperately needed throughout the UK. Each year, thousands of seriously ill children need urgent care at specialist hospitals. This service relies completely on charitable donations from the general public. It is my intention to do all I can to raise the profile of TCAA and to help raise the money that is so crucial to keeping the service running."

The service needs a further £545,000 to begin delivering a lifesaving service to critically ill babies and children in England and Wales, with a further £134,000 required per month to maintain the service. The organisation is funded solely through the generous donations received from the public and vital support from corporate sponsors - without any Government or National Lottery funding. For more information please visit the website www.thechildrensairambulance.org.uk or contact The Air Ambulance Service on 0845 4130 999.

• About The Reuben Foundation:

Formed in 2002, The Reuben Foundation is a UK registered charity focused on making essential contributions to healthcare and education in the UK and worldwide.

The Reuben Foundation recently provided the principal funding required to create the BFI Reuben Library on London's Southbank, which will be the leading centre for film knowledge in the UK, and launched the Reuben Scholarship Programme in association with the University of Oxford, University College London and ARK Schools, to assist bright students from disadvantaged backgrounds both to continue their education and see that attending university is an option very much open to them.

The Reuben Foundation also established the Reuben Foundation Children's Cancer Centre at Great Ormond Street Hospital in London, amongst many other projects. www.reubenfoundation.com

• About Barclays London Heliport:

London Heliport in Battersea, just south of Chelsea Wharf & Harbour is the only CAA approved heliport in the Capital with approval to handle 12,000 take offs and landings per year. It has been in operation since 1959, providing essential service to the business community and emergency services, such as the Air Ambulance (HEMS) and Police Air Support units. Located on the River Thames between Battersea and Wandsworth bridges, the heliport caters for both business and leisure customers requiring fast access in and out of the City.

The Barclays London Heliport is wholly owned by the Reuben Brothers who announced its acquisition at the end of February, 2012. Reuben Brothers' investment activities include pri-vate equity, real estate ownership and development, which are predominantly based in the United Kingdom and Europe. Businesses include London Oxford Airport, shopping centres, mixed use commercial real estate, data centres, race courses, public houses, hotels and other development projects.

www.londonheliport.co.uk