Children’s Air Ambulance store cleared for landing

The Children’s Air Ambulance (TCAA) has unveiled ambitious plans to transform a former Office Outlet unit into a home and furniture store which will raise vital funds for the lifesaving service.

The charity, which works alongside 11 NHS teams across the UK to provide high-speed, specialist clinical transfers for critically babies and children, helps families across the country and is due to “land” in Salford later this month.

The store, which sits is on the popular and well-established Regent Retail Park Centre, is undergoing a substantial transformation over the next few weeks in turning the 6,150sq ft space into a home store which will offer both new and pre-loved homeware, furniture, electricals, living and brand-new white goods.

It is the 21^st store nationally for The Children’s Air Ambulance but the first in the Greater Manchester region.

The success of the store is vital to the lifesaving work of the charity as TCAA receives no government funding and relies solely on donations from the public and retail income to keep saving lives through its support for the NHS.

Gemma Ingram, Head of Retail for the charity, said: “Shopping in a charity shop is experience shopping and we now offer this across our network of superstores. Customers love the thrill of not knowing what they will find, and we want to make that experience last longer by offering a wider choice with a fantastic, safe, and friendly environment.”

The store, which will be open seven days a week, will be offering a free collection service for any customers wishing to donate large items and a van will be operating seven days per week to support collections and deliveries across the region.

Work is currently underway to get the store ready for its grand opening on 22 October. As well as creating many local jobs there are also a number of varied volunteer roles available for anyone wishing to help the charity.

TCAA provides support to paediatric and neonatal care through the high-speed transfer of critically ill babies and children and flying them from one hospital to another for specialist care. The service uses clinically designed helicopters as a flying intensive care unit for babies and children.

All transfers of critically ill babies and children carry an inherent risk – the longer a child is out of the hospital, the greater that risk but the charity’s ability to fly approximately four times faster than a land ambulance helps to minimise travel times and risk.

The charity receives no funding from the government or National Lottery for its missions and relies entirely on voluntary donations to raise the £3,500 needed for every mission.

Your support will help to keep hope alive for these patients and their families.