Five members of the Junior Lawyers team at Waldrons Solicitors lent their support to the Midlands Air Ambulance Charity ahead of the opening of its new Worcester shop last Friday.
Antoinette Nasilele, Chloe Rainey, Ellie Dovey, Nazma Khatun and Olivia Shaw volunteered their time to assist with stock organisation, item display and preparing the store for its big launch. Located in Friary Walk within Crowngate Shopping Centre, the new Worcester shop offers a fantastic range of pre-loved treasures, with all proceeds going towards Midlands Air Ambulance Charity lifesaving missions.
The charity operates and funds three air ambulances covering six counties including Gloucestershire, Herefordshire, Shropshire, Staffordshire, Worcestershire and the West Midlands. The charity relies entirely on public donations to sustain its operations, as it does not receive Government or National Lottery funding for its daily missions.
On the morning of the opening, a queue of eager shoppers formed outside the store, waiting patiently to be among the first to explore the new charity shop. The official launch began with a speech and ribbon-cutting ceremony led by the High Sheriff of Worcestershire. Among the attendees were Waldrons Solicitors’ Managing Director, Joseph Norton and Director, Luke Boxall, who joined representatives from ISO Quality Services Ltd (ISO QSL), the EBC Group and three Critical Care Paramedics in showing their support.
Joseph Norton, Managing Director of Waldrons Solicitors, said:
“The Midlands Air Ambulance Charity plays an invaluable role in delivering lifesaving emergency care across the Midlands. The opening of the Worcester shop is a fantastic initiative, providing people with the opportunity to support this vital service while also picking up great finds. We are proud to have been part of the launch and to have played a small role in helping the charity continue its mission.”
Antoinette Nasilele, Family Law Solicitor at Waldrons and volunteer coordinator for the event, added:
“Volunteering alongside my colleagues for such a worthwhile cause was a privilege. The Midlands Air Ambulance Charity carries out incredible work and we were delighted to contribute in a hands-on way. Seeing the shop come together and knowing that every sale will help fund lifesaving missions makes it all worthwhile.”
The Worcester shop is the latest addition to the Midlands Air Ambulance Charity’s network of nine other stores across the Midlands. Each year, it costs £16 million to keep the charity’s three helicopters operational and to provide its lifesaving services. Every air ambulance mission costs an average of £2,950, while each critical care car mission costs £288. The charity has responded to more than 78,000 missions since its inception in 1991, making it one of the busiest air ambulance services in the UK.
Operating from regional airbases at Cosford in Shropshire, Strensham on the Worcestershire/Gloucestershire border, and Tatenhill in Staffordshire, the charity’s helicopters are crewed by a pilot and two paramedics or a paramedic and flight doctor, equipped with full life-support medical equipment. When adverse weather prevents helicopter deployment, the charity also operates a fleet of rapid response vehicles.
Since January 2024, the Midlands Air Ambulance Charity has trialled a new clinical operating model, ensuring its pre-hospital emergency service runs on a 24/7 basis. Critical care cars now operate between 7 pm and 8 am, providing vital assistance throughout the night. The service responds to some of the most traumatic incidents, including cardiac arrests, road traffic collisions, and sports injuries, reaching remote locations often inaccessible to land ambulances. With an average response time of just ten minutes, the Midlands Air Ambulance Charity continues to play a crucial role in saving lives across the Midlands.
To learn more about Midlands Air Ambulance Charity and how you can support their work, visit: https://www.midlandsairambulance.com/
