Northamptonshire's Air Ambulance must find £22,000 to open shops after Covid-19 lockdown

Chairty fears crisis will cost £2.1m in lost donations and sales
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Northamptonshire's Air Ambulance desperately needs help to plug a whopping £2.18million hole in its finances during the Covid19 crisis.

The charity, which helicopters emergency medics to 999 calls and transfers patients for life-saving treatment in hospitals, depends 100 per cent on public giving cash and spending in its shops to keep flying.

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But all five stores in Northamptonshire closed when the coronavirus lockdown kicked in on March 24 and now it faces a £22,000 bill to make them safe ready to open again when restrictions are finally lifted.

Deputy CEO Emma Peake said: “Due to the closure of our shops, the suspension of our reuse kerbside collections and the postponement of our door-to-door lottery, the charity is facing a projected net loss of at least £2.18million for the months April to June.

“Our dedicated crews are continuing their potentially lifesaving work through this difficult time and this vital support to the NHS relies solely on donations as the charity receives no government funding for its missions.

“We want to reopen our shops as soon as we are able but our priority is to ensure the safety of our customers and staff.

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"The charity desperately needs the income these stores provide and we desperately need the public’s help, more than ever before, to enable us to continue to support the NHS.”

Northamptonshire's Air Ambulance needs 22,000 urgently to ease fears of being groundedNorthamptonshire's Air Ambulance needs 22,000 urgently to ease fears of being grounded
Northamptonshire's Air Ambulance needs 22,000 urgently to ease fears of being grounded

AgustaWestland 109 Air Ambulance choppers operate at a top speed of 185mph and are the fastest civilian helicopters available. Flying doctors to emergencies means victims can often get vital treatment much quicker than relying on land transport.

Just yesterday (Tuesday May 5) doctors reached a heat attack-victim in Great Doddington, near Wellingborough, in just 21 minutes following a 999 call.

But the local service, which also covers Leicestershire & Rutland, Warwickshire and Derbyshire gets no Government cash or National Lottery funding and has to rely donations and sales in 57 stores across the four counties — including in Northampton, Wellingborough, Oundle and Daventry.

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But it needs nearly £13,000 for hygiene screens around till points, more than £7,000 for hand sanitiser stations and fluids as well over £1,000 for social distancing signage and other measures to make sure those stores can re-open.

Air Ambulance crews are all funded by donations and charity shop salesAir Ambulance crews are all funded by donations and charity shop sales
Air Ambulance crews are all funded by donations and charity shop sales

That whopping bill is in addition to the multi-million-pound losses faced by the charity down to losing sales and cancelling fundraising events.

Despite the impact the charity continues to provide critical care services and is flying missions 24/7 throughout the Covid-19 crisis.

To support your local air ambulance please visit: www.theairambulanceservice.org.uk or call 0300 3045 999 and donate to help keep them flying.