The Trustees of The Gibraltar Community Care Trust and the Directors of Gibraltar Community Care Limited are "delighted" with the news that the Government of Gibraltar will make available £35 million for the Trust and the Company.

A spokesperson said: "These funds are essential if the charity is going to be able, once again, to build up its own reserves. This grant will provide an income so that in future, Gibraltar Community Care will be self-sufficient and will not have to rely on grants from the Government.

"It will be recalled that in 1996 the charity had reserves of £60m and an investment income which was sufficient to make payments to its beneficiaries without assistance from the Government. Unfortunately, some years later the charity had to make use of all its capital and in fact the whole of the reserves were used up. 

"This generous contribution will ensure the continued viability of this very important charity for the whole of Gibraltar."