THE AIR Ambulance Service is urging supporters to shop at its online stores as the UK heads in to a second lockdown.
The charity, which operates Warwickshire and Northamptonshire Air Ambulances along with Derbyshire and children’s services, has already suffered a multimillion-pound net loss of income from the first lockdown and staff are concerned about the impact the second wave of closures will have.
Despite the financial impact, the charity has continued to provide frontline care by attending an average of 10 missions every day throughout the covid 19 crisis.
Chief executive Andy Williamson said: “The pandemic has had a significant impact on so many including our own life-saving charity.
“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 life-saving 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 lockdown will mean the closure of its shops, the suspension of the charity’s kerbside reuse collections, and the postponement of door-to-door lottery canvassing.
Mr Williamson added: “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.
“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.”
While the shops are closed people are asked not to leave donations outside but to take them to donation banks which remain operational. The charity is offering a free postage service for those who want to stay inside to donate their goods.
Visit theairambulanceservice.org.uk for more details and to shop online.
