Air ambulance charity under inquiry announces closure

A charity that gave the impression it was operating a functional air ambulance service when it had no aircraft has announced it is closing.

In February, the Fundraising Regulator found the situation amounted to Stoke Air Ambulance having breached the Fundraising Code of Practice, with the Charity Commission announcing it had opened a statutory inquiry over concerns relating to the charity's activities and administration.

As well as having no access to a helicopter, Stoke Air Ambulance did not have an operational base or clinicians, and did not have Care Quality Commission approval either, the Fundraising Regulator said then.

In a statement, Stoke Air Ambulance said: "After taking appropriate professional advice and carefully considering all available options, the trustees have concluded that it is no longer feasible for the charity to progress its plans to establish and then operate an air ambulance service."

Their chair, Daniel Moores, said it had been an extremely difficult decision, and that everyone involved had been motivated by a genuine desire to improve outcomes for local people.

The trustees said that, following payment of outstanding liabilities, any surplus funds will be given to local charities.

The statement added that the charity had taken steps to cancel all existing direct debit arrangements with donors, with immediate effect.

A Charity Commission spokesperson said the body was aware of the development and it followed its "engagement with the trustees in recent months since we launched a statutory inquiry".

The BBC reported earlier this year how the Fundraising Regulator had found the charity created the impression that it was up and running operationally, and claimed it would bring a helicopter to public events. And while its website showed pictures of aircraft, no evidence was found of the charity having one ready to fly.

Against this backdrop, the regulator found Stoke Air Ambulance had encouraged donors to cancel existing donations to other organisations.

The separate Midlands Air Ambulance Charity, which has been operating for 35 years, said it was "important to be clear that Midlands Air Ambulance Charity is entirely separate from Stoke Air Ambulance.

"There is no organisational or operational connection between the two charities, and Stoke Air Ambulance has never operated as an air ambulance service."

In the statement on its website, Stoke Air Ambulance said: "Over an extended period, the trustees have carefully reviewed the charity's position and explored a range of options for its future.

"In doing so, they have had to consider the challenges arising from regulatory intervention, together with the significant practical, operational and financial difficulties involved in progressing plans for a sustainable and viable operational air ambulance charity."

The charity said it had "taken steps to cancel all existing direct debit arrangements with immediate effect" and donors did "not need to take any action".

The Charity Commission said: "We will monitor the trustees' handling of the closure, ensuring that they fulfil their legal duties in managing this situation and redistributing remaining funds to charities with similar charitable purposes.

"As our inquiry remains ongoing, we are unable to comment further at this time."

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