Air ambulance charity set to reopen Northampton shop later this month

With the charity’s home stores already open, preparations have now been made for the reopening of the rest of Your Local Air Ambulance’s Northamptonshire stores – subject to Government guidelines.

Operated by The Air Ambulance Service, the stores located in Daventry, Kingsthorpe, Northampton, Oundle and Wellingborough will open their doors on Friday 19th June.

Income from the stores enables the charity to operate and support NHS partners working on the frontline.

During the current Covid-19 crisis the charity has continued to provide vital critical care services and is attending missions 24/7 throughout this difficult period.

A store manager for the air ambulance, Tina Allen, has a message for existing and new customers:

“It is safe to shop and donate. We look forward to welcoming you back to our stores. Please come along and help save lives by supporting our cause”.

Due to the Covid-19 crisis, the charity is facing a projected net loss of income of at least £2.18million for the months April to June. It has also had to spend £22,000 on installing screens, hand sanitiser stations, social distancing signage and other health and safety measures in its network of shops.

“The safety of our customers, volunteers and staff is our priority. We had fantastic support from the local community before the lockdown, and I thank them for that. My hope now is that it will continue when we reopen.”

“I am looking forward to welcoming back customers and ask that they follow in-store safety measures which will be clearly signposted.

“Anyone with extra time on their hands, due to the Covid-19 crisis, who wants to volunteer at our stores please get in touch – there are plenty of jobs for you to do and we would really appreciate your help,” says Tina.

All payments will be card and collection and delivery services will be operated within social distancing guidelines with one driver only in a vehicle. This will limit the type and size of items that can be handled.

Donations will only be collected from outside properties and should be left in a garden or on a driveway. Any changes to these arrangements will be advertised on the charity’s website: https://theairambulanceservice.org.uk/