Local air ambulance charity appeals for temporary shop premises after flash flooding delays lockdown opening

The reopening of the local air ambulance charity shop in Castle Street, Hinckley has had to be postponed after flash flooding caused extensive damage to the building and contents.

Now the charity – which receives no Government funding for its daily missions and relies on donations and fundraising to remain operational – is appealing to local landlords with empty shop units in the town to make one available so that they can trade from it temporarily while refurbishment work takes place.

Already facing huge losses in income after being closed for 12 weeks during lockdown, the Castle Street shop now faces an even bigger trading deficit if it can’t open for business as soon as possible.

Until a new location is found for the charity shop or until the original shop is stripped, dried out and refitted, local people are being asked to hold on to any items they want to donate until they can be safely accepted.

“It is so disappointing for the shop staff and volunteers who were looking forward to welcoming back our wonderful supporters on Thursday but, unfortunately, the British weather had other plans and the heavy rain on Wednesday afternoon resulted in sewage slurry coming into the back of the shop,” says TAAS Retail Area Manager, Jayne Botfield.

“This is a real tragedy for the local community who we know were looking forward to coming back to our shop to buy items and to bring donations for us to sell,” she adds.

Anybody who has or knows of a vacant shop unit in Hinckley that could be used temporarily by the charity – which operates the Derbyshire, Leicestershire and Rutland Air Ambulance – is asked to make contact on 0300 3045 999.