Northamptonshire air ambulance service celebrates 10 years in retail with variety of activities

The charity which provides the air ambulance in Northamptonshire will be celebrating 10 years in retail with a variety of activities on Thursday (November 19).

The Air Ambulance Service, which also serves Derbyshire, Leicestershire, Rutland and Warwickshire as well as the national Children’s Air Ambulances, opened its first store in Rugby in 2010.

Since then, the organisation has added a further 55 shops across the country, including two superstores, which have funded over 30,000 missions.

Deputy chief executive Emma Peake said: “It is great to be celebrating our 10th anniversary in retail, over the last decade our retail operations have made over £5.5 million net profit for this life-saving service and received over 850,000 donations.

“Our stores are filled with fabulous donations and things to buy, and whilst we have had to close during this difficult period, we really encourage people to still celebrate with us by shopping at our online outlets."

The Air Ambulance Service had to change its original plans to celebrate in-store due to the second coronavirus lockdown.

Former patient Guy Watt, who suffered multiple life-threatening injuries but was helped by the charity, was due to attend the Rugby shop to show his appreciation and support.

“The 10th anniversary of the air ambulance retail stores is a great milestone for the charity, all the staff and volunteers in-store make a huge difference in keeping the charity going," he said.

“The stores provide an invaluable source of funding for this vital service, allowing them to keep attending lifesaving missions like mine – so, on behalf of the air ambulance patients, I’d like to say a big thank you to all of the charity’s retail team.

Instead, the Air Ambulance Service will mark the occasion with a variety of internal activities all week to thank everyone who has helped in reaching this great milestone.

The charity has also launched a drawing competition with its kid's club, #TheCrew, and has special plans for when the stores are allowed to reopen.

Emma added: “On behalf of the charity, I want to thank all of our supporters for their continued support over the last ten years- especially during these challenging times.

"We look forward to warmly welcoming everyone back in our stores as soon as we reopen."