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Charity urges online support as shops close

The Air Ambulance Service is urging people to continue to support the lifesaving charity by shopping at its online stores following the Government’s decision to close all non-essential shops from Thursday (5 November).

With the health, safety, and wellbeing of customers, volunteers, and staff the priority, The Air Ambulance Service will close its retail network of high street shops and superstores in response to the latest coronavirus pandemic advice.

The charity, which operates the Derbyshire, Leicestershire & Rutland, Warwickshire & Northamptonshire and national Children’s Air Ambulances, has already suffered a multimillion-pound net loss of income from the initial national lockdown and is extremely concerned about the impact the second wave of closures will have on its services.

Despite the financial impact to date the charity has continued to provide vital frontline, critical care by attending an average of 10, potentially lifesaving, missions every day throughout the Covid-19 crisis.

“The pandemic has had a significant impact on so many including our own lifesaving charity,” explained charity CEO Andy Williamson. “The charity faced a projected net loss of income of at least £2.2million for the months April to June and now, worryingly, we are entering another lockdown.

“As a charity, our mission is clear – to continue to provide critical care and lifesaving support to the NHS – but in order to do this we need the support of people within our communities now more than ever before.”

The closure of shops, the suspension of the charity’s kerbside reuse collections, and the postponement of door-to-door lottery canvassing will be for an initial four-week period until 2 December but will remain under review in line with future Government advice.

“We want to reopen our shops as soon as we’re able to, but our priority is to ensure the safety of our customers and staff,” said Andy. “The charity desperately needs the income these stores provide and, therefore, we are urging the public to shop with us online or to simply make a donation so we can continue to support the NHS.”

To access The Air Ambulance Service’s online shops or to support the charity in other ways please visit https://theairambulanceservice.org.uk/shops/online/

While the charity’s shops are closed people are also being asked not to leave donations outside shops. The charity’s network of donation banks will remain operational and will take donations. For further details visit https://theairambulanceservice.org.uk/ways-to-give/donation-drop-offs/

The charity is also offering a free postage service which allows people to donate their goods without the need to visit a donation bank. For further details visit https://theairambulanceservice.org.uk/post-your-pre-loved-goods-to-us-for-free/