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Christmas Market
in Birkdale Village 2013
Photographs by Patrick
Trollope.
THE scene in Birkdale Village on Wednesday
evening, 4 December 2013, was certainly festive! Birkdale
Traders had got together to arrange a Christmas Market. The
atmosphere was lively and cheerful; lights twinkled, enticing aromas
pervaded the nostrils, mostly from numerous food outlets, whilst
sounds of Christmas music and carols from several choirs floated
across the throng of busy visitors, many with young children
enjoying tasty treats. Oh, and there was even a small Christmas tree
decorated entirely for dogs, outside a pet shop. Costumed characters
manned stalls, and elves and a boisterous snowman paraded around.
The shops looked inviting, as did the various stalls and games set
up on either side of the road. The only sour notes, entirely out of
their organisers control, were the few motorists who sped along the
road with no thought for others, - shame! However business was said
to have been brisk, which is good news for the traders, but also for
the various charities set to gain from their efforts too. We hope
these snaps convey something of the spirit of Christmas engendered
there. If you attended let us know what you thought of the event by
emailing us to:-
news24@southportreporter.com.
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Fraudsters
Threaten Air Ambulance Donations
THE Air Ambulance
Service (TAAS) is calling upon its supporters and potential
donators to be wary of rogue collectors posing as a Charity.
The Charity is concerned that vital income could be lost as a
result of companies that carry out fraudulent activities and try
to trade on the Charity's good name and reputation.
Worried about the effect that bogus clothing collections will
have on its donations at the most important time of the year,
Chief Executive Andy Williamson said:- "Christmas
donations of money and clothing are crucial to our service and
yet we now have to worry that criminals are distributing bogus
bags that try to fool people into thinking they are giving to us
when they are not".
TAAS has recently received several reports of a hoax Charity,
simply calling themselves "Air Ambulance Service",
sending out collection leaflets (pictured above) nationwide and
encouraging people to donate to them.
These hoax leaflets ask people to donate unwanted items such as
clothing, and provide a phone number and website address, but do
not include a registered charity number. The phone number
provided is no longer in use and the website clearly states that
the service is a 'scam'.
The company originally responsible for distributing these
leaflets was caught out and closed down by the High Court over 2
years ago. The company's directors were subsequently prosecuted.
At the time, it was believed that over £1 million was extorted
from the public by rogue collectors claiming to be from Air
Ambulance Charities. However, these leaflets appear to be in
circulation once again, with reports of deliveries to addresses
throughout England.
The Air Ambulance Service would like to make it very clear that
this "Air Ambulance Service" is a hoax Charity
and, despite adopting a very similar name, is in no way
affiliated with "The Air Ambulance Service".
These misleading leaflets have a serious and detrimental impact
on the Charity's recycling operation and public image. Andy
goes on to say:- "As a Charity, we are extremely concerned
that this will affect our legitimate collections. We would
encourage everyone to please check the bags and make sure they
support a true air ambulance Charity. Criminal activities like
this put people off from donating which, particularly at
Christmas time, can be devastating for a small Charity like
ours."
TAAS is the umbrella organisation for 2 Helicopter Emergency
Medical Services (HEMS):-
►
Warwickshire & Northamptonshire Air Ambulance (WNAA) and
Derbyshire, Leicestershire & Rutland Air Ambulance (DLRAA).
►
They also run The Children's Air Ambulance (TCAA),
a national Charity that transfers critically ill children and
babies from hospitals to Paediatric Intensive Care Units across
England and Wales.
► The Charity receives no Government
funding, relying entirely on public support to keep its
helicopters flying and its crew saving lives on a regular basis.
► The Charity operates every day of
the year, including Christmas Day, and needs to raise over £3
million every year to keep each of its services running.
TAAS is currently in discussion with the Police and Trading
Standards about this new wave of rogue leaflets.
TAAS's collection bags clearly state which Charity the
collections are going to and also include the Charity's
registration number. For further information, please call:-
08454 130999, or to see an example of what their collection bags
look like, and to find out more about them click on to the
official
website.
To make a donation to
The Air Ambulance Service this Christmas, you can also call:-
08454 130999 or go
online.
Read more at
file:///C:/Users/User/Desktop/This%20Week/633-6.shtml#mh7AXzO6z2XGsQkT.99
We hope you liked the photos, but
please, don't copy them. Please
help us to keep our copyright intact and to keep this site online.
Click on
here
now.
Fraudsters
Threaten Air Ambulance Donations
THE Air Ambulance
Service (TAAS) is calling upon its supporters and potential
donators to be wary of rogue collectors posing as a Charity.
The Charity is concerned that vital income could be lost as a
result of companies that carry out fraudulent activities and try
to trade on the Charity's good name and reputation.
Worried about the effect that bogus clothing collections will
have on its donations at the most important time of the year,
Chief Executive Andy Williamson said:- "Christmas
donations of money and clothing are crucial to our service and
yet we now have to worry that criminals are distributing bogus
bags that try to fool people into thinking they are giving to us
when they are not".
TAAS has recently received several reports of a hoax Charity,
simply calling themselves "Air Ambulance Service",
sending out collection leaflets (pictured above) nationwide and
encouraging people to donate to them.
These hoax leaflets ask people to donate unwanted items such as
clothing, and provide a phone number and website address, but do
not include a registered charity number. The phone number
provided is no longer in use and the website clearly states that
the service is a 'scam'.
The company originally responsible for distributing these
leaflets was caught out and closed down by the High Court over 2
years ago. The company's directors were subsequently prosecuted.
At the time, it was believed that over £1 million was extorted
from the public by rogue collectors claiming to be from Air
Ambulance Charities. However, these leaflets appear to be in
circulation once again, with reports of deliveries to addresses
throughout England.
The Air Ambulance Service would like to make it very clear that
this "Air Ambulance Service" is a hoax Charity
and, despite adopting a very similar name, is in no way
affiliated with "The Air Ambulance Service".
These misleading leaflets have a serious and detrimental impact
on the Charity's recycling operation and public image. Andy
goes on to say:- "As a Charity, we are extremely concerned
that this will affect our legitimate collections. We would
encourage everyone to please check the bags and make sure they
support a true air ambulance Charity. Criminal activities like
this put people off from donating which, particularly at
Christmas time, can be devastating for a small Charity like
ours."
TAAS is the umbrella organisation for 2 Helicopter Emergency
Medical Services (HEMS):-
►
Warwickshire & Northamptonshire Air Ambulance (WNAA) and
Derbyshire, Leicestershire & Rutland Air Ambulance (DLRAA).
►
They also run The Children's Air Ambulance (TCAA),
a national Charity that transfers critically ill children and
babies from hospitals to Paediatric Intensive Care Units across
England and Wales.
► The Charity receives no Government
funding, relying entirely on public support to keep its
helicopters flying and its crew saving lives on a regular basis.
► The Charity operates every day of
the year, including Christmas Day, and needs to raise over £3
million every year to keep each of its services running.
TAAS is currently in discussion with the Police and Trading
Standards about this new wave of rogue leaflets.
TAAS's collection bags clearly state which Charity the
collections are going to and also include the Charity's
registration number. For further information, please call:-
08454 130999, or to see an example of what their collection bags
look like, and to find out more about them click on to the
official
website.
To make a donation to
The Air Ambulance Service this Christmas, you can also call:-
08454 130999 or go
online.
Read more at
file:///C:/Users/User/Desktop/This%20Week/633-6.shtml#mh7AXzO6z2XGsQkT.99
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