Your Local Air Ambulance and Age UK urge people to support them in lockdown

People are being urged to continue to support charities following the Government’s decision to close all non-essential shops as part of the second lockdown.

The Stamford branch of the Children’s Air Ambulance charity has a target of bringing in £3,500 each week so being closed for four weeks will have drastic effects. The target that is set is the cost of one Children’s Air Ambulance journey.

Laura Denny, shop manager at the Stamford branch, said: “I hope that the Stamford community doesn’t forget us when we are open and carry on supporting us.

“We value our customers and donations. Without that we wouldn’t open our doors and get the revenue we need for the air ambulances.”

She added: “[The lockdown] is disappointing but if it actually does work we can get back to normal and get on with our lives. We are trying to stay positive.”

Chief executive of Your Local Air Ambulance - which operates the Derbyshire, Leicestershire and Rutland, Warwickshire and Northamptonshire and national Children’s Air Ambulance - is encouraging people to shop at its online stores.

Chief executive, Andy Williamson, said: “The charity faced a projected net loss of income of at least £2.2m 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 lifesaving support to the NHS – but in order to do this we need the support of people within our communities now more than ever before.”

Anna Gilbert, shop manager at the Age UK Stamford branch, also feels disappointed that charity shops have to close.

She said: “I think it’s really sad because charity shops are becoming more and more essential.

“We are not classified as key workers or essential but people don’t have the money to spend in high street shops.

“Particularly in Stamford there aren’t any low-end clothing shops or low-end children shops so charity shops are bridging that gap.”

Anna believes that charities ‘need more support than ever before’ during the pandemic.

She said: “As a charity we are going to lose a huge amount of money in lockdown. We are overwhelmingly grateful for people coming out and we are definitely not short of donations for Age UK.”

Anna expects the shop will lose between £15,000 and £20,000 over the four weeks.

People should not leave donations outside charity shops while they’re closed but save them for after lockdown.