In the past few months the air ambulance community has discovered a problem where wills are being written listing the ‘Air Ambulance Service’ as a beneficiary.

While the name ‘Air Ambulance Service’ has been used as a general phrase to describe services across the country, it is now incorrect because of one of the local air ambulance charities based in Rugby, Warwickshire, has renamed itself ‘the Air Ambulance Service’. This organisation only serves the Warwickshire, Northamptonshire, Derbyshire, Leicestershire and Rutland counties.

There are 35 air ambulances in the UK which are operated by 19 independent charities. These charities receive no public funding and are totally reliant on the generous donations of the general public. The air ambulance charities work closely with the ambulance services which task them, each focusing on their local community.

Recently there have been a number of cases where executors have been confronted with confusion because the listed beneficiary was the ‘Air Ambulance Service’, while the deceased had intended the beneficiary to be the local air ambulance charity or the national entity that represents air ambulance charities and the ambulance services.

The association asks that when preparing a will, the beneficiary is accurately listed, and the full charity name and charity number/company number stated. If in doubt regarding which charity or organisation to list, please contact the association for advice and guidance.

When an estate is being distributed to beneficiaries and an air ambulance is listed, please ensure that the funds are distributed to the correct local air ambulance; or if a national donation is made, to the Association of Air Ambulances, a not-for-profit organisation which will distribute funds in accordance with the executor’s instruction.

Clive Dickin, national director, Association of Air Ambulances, Solihull