Louise Jones, health promoting schools manager with Highland Council and NHS Highland, said businesses had been asked to sponsor materials for schools which was already available. Only council-approved material is circulated to Highland schools.

She said:  "Such materials are freely available as part of NHS Highland's health information and resource service. We understand that big-hearted Highland businesses are being conned into wasting their money by sponsoring materials for schools on Health and Wellbeing subjects, which Highland schools have found inappropriate and are unable to use.

"To avoid waste and to ensure only high-quality information which is factually correct is provided, the Highland Council education, culture & sport service in partnership with NHS Highland have set up a system of vetting and approval of such materials. We would urge businesses not to be duped by such unsolicited calls and to contact Highland Trading Standards Service for further advice. Local businesses do support school communities very well and this is something we encourage, any business wishing to do so can contact their local school direct to see what kind of support might be most beneficial to them."

Alistair Thomson, head of environmental health and trading standards, said emotional blackmail was one tactic of the scammers.

“The caller may state that they are a charity and that by not confirming the order the Highland business is letting down their local school or are failing a community responsibility of helping vulnerable and disadvantaged children and young adults of receiving valuable guidance.” 

Anyone concerned about unsolicited calls should inform Highland Trading Standards on 0845 600 4222.

Printer friendly version

Email this article to a friend

Bookmark this

---