Local children’s charity store celebrates funding almost 500 lifesaving missions

The Children’s Air Ambulance (TCAA) charity store in West Bridgford, Nottingham, is celebrating over a decade of helping to fund lifesaving transfer missions for critically ill babies and children across the UK by selling high-quality new and pre-loved items.

The charity store opened its doors on 23 March 2012 and is located near Bridgford Park. Over the past eleven years, the hardworking store team have generated £1,621,973.33 worth of sales for the charity, funding nearly 500 vital missions, and enabling it to continue saving young lives.

The boutique store has also received an amazing 136,295 bags of generously donated goods since 2012, which have provided vital income for the charity, but they continue to require the support of the local community for further donations of new and preloved items.

The national Children’s Air Ambulance provides the only intensive care helicopters in the country dedicated to transferring critically ill babies and children, at a high and safe speed, from local hospitals to specialist paediatric and neonatal treatment centres.

Funding from the charity’s retail store provides an invaluable source of income for the children’s service by keeping the clinically bespoke-designed helicopter flying.

The charity receives no government funding and relies solely on generous donations from its supporters to fund its vital missions – without this they wouldn’t be able to help save young lives.

“We would like to thank the local community, the staff and volunteers for all the amazing support they have given us over the past eleven years. We receive no government funding and together we are ensuring the Children’s Air Ambulance can continue to support and save the lives of critically ill babies and children across the UK,” said Store Manager, Mandy Samaoli.

The charity is celebrating its 10^th anniversary of providing lifesaving high-speed transfers for critically ill babies and children in 2023. To help the charity mark this momentous milestone and support it so its lifesaving missions can continue, why not visit a charity store and grab a bargain, donate preloved items, host a clothing bank, get involved in a challenge event, fundraise, make a one-off donation, or even sign up to volunteer. Your support will help to keep hope alive for patients and their families.

To learn more, or to support the charity, please visit: www.childrensairambulance.org.uk or call 0300 3045 999.