Overview
- The regulator escalated engagement begun in November to a statutory inquiry after public complaints about governance and spending.
- The inquiry will examine conflicts of interest, any private benefit to trustees or connected parties, use of income for charitable purposes, fundraising arrangements, and the viability of running an air ambulance.
- A separate investigation by the Fundraising Regulator found the charity used misleading information and made unfair criticisms of other organisations in its appeals.
- The regulator reported the charity had no aircraft, operational base, employed clinicians, or CQC approval while promoting aircraft appearances at events and offering helicopter flights to volunteers.
- The charity removed misleading material, updated its communications processes, agreed to the regulator’s recommendations, and has previously said it agreed terms on a helicopter and operates a hub in The Potteries Centre.