BREAKING NEWS: Warning over ‘Air Ambulance’ recycling collection scam

Representatives of the registered company are visiting homes asking for donations of goods such as clothes, toys and mobile phones.

Leaflets advertising the collections state: “We are working towards providing financial assistance to cover or reduce the cost of ground and air ambulance medical transportation for patients caught in difficult medical circumstances, having an unfortunate accident or illness in another city or country.” However the Kent, Surrey and Sussex Air Ambulance wishes to make clear it has no association with Air Ambulance Service who are carrying out these collections.

Chief Executive Adrian Bell said: “I am not saying that the Air Ambulance Service is purporting to be collecting on our behalf, far from it, as its literature makes clear it is not associated with any HEMS service. However, I would like to make clear that the Air Ambulance Service is NOT a registered charity and we will certainly not benefit from any donation you make to them, so please do not think otherwise.”

The company also asks for unwanted shoes, handbags, perfumes, blankets and bed linen which it says will be recycled and re-sold.

In small print at the bottom it says Air Ambulance Service is not associated with any local Helicopter Emergency Medical Service (HEMS) operators.

Textile banks are a genuine source of income for the Kent, Surrey and Sussex Air Ambulance but only at allocated venues.

If you would like to make a donation to the Air Ambulance please call 01622 833833.