Air ambulance worried it will lose donations

5:30pm Monday 25th February 2013 in News

AN air ambulance charity has been accused of confusing the Oxfordshire public over its purpose.

The Thames Valley and Chiltern Air Ambulance (TVCAA) has said it is concerned a new service set up for children does not make it clear it is not a medical emergency helicopter service.

The Children’s Air Ambulance, based at Coventry Airport and said to be 20 minutes away from Oxford by air, is used for pre-booked transfers between hospitals only and cannot make emergency flights to car crashes or other incidents.

It was launched at Eynsham Hall in West Oxfordshire in November as a charity service for youngsters, but as yet has not carried any patients.

TVCAA has said it is worried it is losing funds to the charity, claiming donors believe they are giving to an emergency service.

TVCAA Trust chief executive Yusuf Firat said: “The Children’s Air Ambulance will create a duplication of the service offered by the local air ambulance services and cause confusion for the well-wishing members of the public.”

But Charlotte Parker, spokesman for the Children’s Air Ambulance, said there was no confusion and the charities were very different.

She said: “This service is one of a kind; dedicated to providing emergency transfers for children already in hospital suffering from illnesses such as meningitis, severe burns or organ failure and in need of urgent and lifesaving care.”

Related links

The service hopes to begin carrying sick children from spring.

Since the start of 2012 TVCAA has carried out about 800 life-saving missions and 20 hospital transfers. Its annual running costs are £3m.

Comments (10)

6:52pm Mon 25 Feb 13

Andrew:Oxford says...

It's not confusing as such. The "begging bags" that have already come through the door make it clear what the donation is for.

But.

As happens time and time again, there are too many charities engaging in activities that should be organised by just the one. Save the admin costs and merge the two facilities services.
It's not confusing as such. The "begging bags" that have already come through the door make it clear what the donation is for. But. As happens time and time again, there are too many charities engaging in activities that should be organised by just the one. Save the admin costs and merge the two facilities services. Andrew:Oxford

7:05pm Mon 25 Feb 13

MrSooty says...

Anyone considering donating any money to the Children's Air Ambulance would be advised to read the active thread regarding this "charity" at PPRUNE.ORG,the professional pilot's forum.There was also a BBC documentary broadcast a few weeks ago which might still be available.Let's just say that the staff involved are very well paid !
Anyone considering donating any money to the Children's Air Ambulance would be advised to read the active thread regarding this "charity" at PPRUNE.ORG,the professional pilot's forum.There was also a BBC documentary broadcast a few weeks ago which might still be available.Let's just say that the staff involved are very well paid ! MrSooty

7:06pm Mon 25 Feb 13

MrSooty says...

Anyone considering donating any money to the Children's Air Ambulance would be advised to read the active thread regarding this "charity" at PPRUNE.ORG,the professional pilot's forum.There was also a BBC documentary broadcast a few weeks ago which might still be available.Let's just say that the staff involved are very well paid !
Anyone considering donating any money to the Children's Air Ambulance would be advised to read the active thread regarding this "charity" at PPRUNE.ORG,the professional pilot's forum.There was also a BBC documentary broadcast a few weeks ago which might still be available.Let's just say that the staff involved are very well paid ! MrSooty

11:07pm Mon 25 Feb 13

Andrew:Oxford says...

MrSooty wrote:
Anyone considering donating any money to the Children's Air Ambulance would be advised to read the active thread regarding this "charity" at PPRUNE.ORG,the professional pilot's forum.There was also a BBC documentary broadcast a few weeks ago which might still be available.Let's just say that the staff involved are very well paid !
Thanks Mr Sooty, that's a fascinating link.
[quote][p][bold]MrSooty[/bold] wrote: Anyone considering donating any money to the Children's Air Ambulance would be advised to read the active thread regarding this "charity" at PPRUNE.ORG,the professional pilot's forum.There was also a BBC documentary broadcast a few weeks ago which might still be available.Let's just say that the staff involved are very well paid ![/p][/quote]Thanks Mr Sooty, that's a fascinating link. Andrew:Oxford

12:12pm Tue 26 Feb 13

TonyH says...

Of course it's confusing - and the people concerned should and almost certainly do realise just that. The gen public largely are incapable of reading supermarket packaging thoroughly - so 2 things both with 'air ambulance' in the title are bound to get muddled up!
Of course it's confusing - and the people concerned should and almost certainly do realise just that. The gen public largely are incapable of reading supermarket packaging thoroughly - so 2 things both with 'air ambulance' in the title are bound to get muddled up! TonyH

1:19pm Tue 26 Feb 13

Ellie the Bruce says...

There is a lot of confusion about these services and quite frankly boils down to the bags that are shoved through our letter boxes on a daily basis. I have emailed one air amulance service asking why they are canvassing for charitable donations in the Oxfordshire area when they very, very small print on the reverse of the bag indicates that the donations made to that charity will keep the air ambulance in Nottinghamshire and Leicestershire in the air. To date, I have never received a response.

The word ambulance presupposes an emergency - if the Children's Air Ambulance claim that their service won't interfere with the work of the TVACAA, then why don't they change their name to the Children's Air Taxi?
There is a lot of confusion about these services and quite frankly boils down to the bags that are shoved through our letter boxes on a daily basis. I have emailed one air amulance service asking why they are canvassing for charitable donations in the Oxfordshire area when they very, very small print on the reverse of the bag indicates that the donations made to that charity will keep the air ambulance in Nottinghamshire and Leicestershire in the air. To date, I have never received a response. The word ambulance presupposes an emergency - if the Children's Air Ambulance claim that their service won't interfere with the work of the TVACAA, then why don't they change their name to the Children's Air Taxi? Ellie the Bruce

2:09pm Tue 26 Feb 13

MrSooty says...

See what the scammers are up to at www.charitybags.org.
uk.
See what the scammers are up to at www.charitybags.org. uk. MrSooty

1:08am Wed 27 Feb 13

yentiw says...

This seems of concern. Surely there should be NO confusion?
It concerns me because the only charity I would ever give to is Air Ambulance.

Just a short search online and they, the so-called Children's Air Ambulance seem to have already got the Witney kids of Cokethorpe School hook line and sinker. On their website it says the Children's Air Ambulance began in 2008 (so hardly 'new') but was taken over by the Air Ambulance Service in 2011?

Surely some real clarity is needed here?

I hope the Gazette looks into this more if this charity are encroaching on this area, and especially as the school in question has a cheque ready that is supposed to be presented in March.
Is this all above board? I'd like to know. Hopefully it is. Can we be told?

Link is:
http://www.cokethorp
e.org.uk/index.cfm?p
age=news.story&newsi
d=662&view=current
This seems of concern. Surely there should be NO confusion? It concerns me because the only charity I would ever give to is Air Ambulance. Just a short search online and they, the so-called Children's Air Ambulance seem to have already got the Witney kids of Cokethorpe School hook line and sinker. On their website it says the Children's Air Ambulance began in 2008 (so hardly 'new') but was taken over by the Air Ambulance Service in 2011? Surely some real clarity is needed here? I hope the Gazette looks into this more if this charity are encroaching on this area, and especially as the school in question has a cheque ready that is supposed to be presented in March. Is this all above board? I'd like to know. Hopefully it is. Can we be told? Link is: http://www.cokethorp e.org.uk/index.cfm?p age=news.story&newsi d=662&view=current yentiw

10:24am Wed 27 Feb 13

MrSooty says...

Need more clarification?Then do a search for "Andy Williamson" the CEO.He's on £109k+ and he employs his wife's company to do the PR !
DO NOT GIVE THESE PEOPLE YOR MONEY.
Need more clarification?Then do a search for "Andy Williamson" the CEO.He's on £109k+ and he employs his wife's company to do the PR ! DO NOT GIVE THESE PEOPLE YOR MONEY. MrSooty

2:17pm Thu 28 Feb 13

yentiw says...

MrSooty wrote:
Need more clarification?Then do a search for "Andy Williamson" the CEO.He's on £109k+ and he employs his wife's company to do the PR !
DO NOT GIVE THESE PEOPLE YOR MONEY.
That's why I said we need more clarity - in the Gazette itself... and now!
By some irony I have just had a charity bag by the said company in question come through my door. There is definitely some deceit here as the Warwickshire/Northam
ptonshire and Derby/Leics/Rutland logos are so small that they are easily missed (alongside the Children's air ambulance logo which is more legible. What the hell are they doing on 'our' doorstep. I spoke about it with my sis-in-law and she filled a bag with clothes for them! She had no idea. Come on Gazette, get onto this... now! The timing is right, just as Cokethorpe School go to present them their cheque. ACTION please!!!
[quote][p][bold]MrSooty[/bold] wrote: Need more clarification?Then do a search for "Andy Williamson" the CEO.He's on £109k+ and he employs his wife's company to do the PR ! DO NOT GIVE THESE PEOPLE YOR MONEY.[/p][/quote]That's why I said we need more clarity - in the Gazette itself... and now! By some irony I have just had a charity bag by the said company in question come through my door. There is definitely some deceit here as the Warwickshire/Northam ptonshire and Derby/Leics/Rutland logos are so small that they are easily missed (alongside the Children's air ambulance logo which is more legible. What the hell are they doing on 'our' doorstep. I spoke about it with my sis-in-law and she filled a bag with clothes for them! She had no idea. Come on Gazette, get onto this... now! The timing is right, just as Cokethorpe School go to present them their cheque. ACTION please!!! yentiw

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