MK City Council announce donation to Thames Valley Air Ambulance

Milton Keynes City Council has announced it has made a financial donation to Thames Valley Air Ambulance through a national scheme that recycles metals left behind after cremations.

The donation of £17,000 was made to Thames Valley Air Ambulance, which provides emergency medical care by air and land to patients across the region. 

When a bereaved family gives permission, the city council works with the ICCM (The Institute of Cemetery and Cremation Management) to raise funds from the sale of metals recovered after cremations at Crownhill Crematorium. The metals come from items such as medical implants and artificial joints. 

MK City Council has nominated Thames Valley Air Ambulance to be the latest recipient of funding raised through the scheme. This brings the total donated to local charities through metal recycling to more than £77,000 since 2014. 

Cllr Sam Crooks, Cabinet Member for Regulatory Services, said, “We are delighted that this contribution will help support Thames Valley Air Ambulance in delivering life-saving critical care. This initiative enables us to generate meaningful donations through the cremation process, always with families’ consent, and it’s incredibly rewarding to see those funds reinvested back into our local community.”

Andy Holland, Director of Engagement at Thames Valley Air Ambulance, added, “As a charity, we rely on the support of the community to bring expert pre-hospital care to people when they need it most. Donations like this mean we can continue to be there when every minute matters. We’re so grateful to the Milton Keynes City Council for nominating us, and to the families who consented for their loved ones to leave such an amazing legacy.”