Frequently Asked Questions

Door to door fundraising

Why use professional fundraisers and not St John Ambulance volunteers?

Nationally, St John Ambulance volunteers give over five-million hours of voluntary service each year. We use professional fundraisers to remove the burden of fundraising from our volunteers, allowing them to serve the community by attending events and administering first aid. St John Ambulance has been fundraising door to door with Wesser Ltd for over 12 years. This year we expect to raise over £2.5 million across the country, from our loyal door to door supporters.

How do I know that the person calling at the door is legitimate? Do the fundraisers have ID?

All of our fundraisers wear identifiable jackets, sweatshirts and T-shirts branded with the St John Ambulance logo and carry official identification cards, which are required by law. If you would like to verify a fundraiser’s details, please call the Supporter Hotline on 0845 222 11 99 (local rate).

Are the local authorities informed that St John Ambulance is fundraising in the area?

Yes, we contact the local Police, Community Wardens, Neighbourhood Watch and Council before the fundraisers begin work in any area. Trading Standards are also aware of our activities.

What do the fundraisers ask for?

The fundraisers ask members of the public to pledge regular donations to St John Ambulance by Direct Debit. The idea is that a small, regular gift given in this way is very valuable to St John Ambulance, as Direct Debits are cost effective to administer and the regularity of the gift helps us budget ahead effectively.

How will my money be used?

If you make the decision to support St John Ambulance, you will be supporting  your local community. Your generosity will help find training and equipment in your area so you'll have a real impact close to home - and close to those you love.

  • £60 could equip one of our volunteers with a first aid kit
  • £80 could pay to train a volunteer for two hours and give them life saving skills
  • £120 could pay for Young first aider packs to train 100 children in schools
  • £160 could pay the running costs of one of our ambulances for two hours
  • £200 could provide over 3,000 local people with a basic first aid pocket guide.

What is Gift Aid and why should I sign up for it?

Gift Aid enables donors to increase the value of any donation made to charity, at no extra cost to themselves. Provided you are a taxpayer, we can reclaim from the Inland Revenue the basic rate tax paid on your gift, boosting the donation by 25 per cent. A gift of £50.00 to St John Ambulance becomes £62.50 with Gift Aid. All we need from you is a simple declaration saying that you want to use Gift Aid – there is a section on the Direct Debit mandate form for you to sign.

How secure is my donation and my personal details?

For security reasons our fundraisers are not allowed to collect cash, to protect both you and St John. The information contained on the Direct Debit mandate forms can only be used by St John Ambulance to collect your agreed contribution from your account and nothing else. We handle the details of hundreds of people on a daily basis and treat security as a priority. We comply with the Data Protection Act and will not pass your details on to any third party.

I recently signed up to make donations to you but have changed my mind and want to cancel – my personal/bank details have changed?

We can action your request immediately. Please call our Supporter Administration team on 0845 222 11 99 (local rate). Alternatively send an email to: fundraising@nhq.sja.org.uk

I wish to make a complaint about a fundraiser – whom should I contact?

We investigate all complaints thoroughly and a quickly as possible. Please call  our Supporter Hotline on 0845 222 11 99 (local rate) or email: fundraising@nhq.sja.org.uk