The Air Ambulance Service (TAAS) team have announced that they have reached their 2013 income target of £3million through their retail outlets across the country.

Renowned for their edgy boutique style shops, TAAS has won numerous prestigious awards for its unique take on the traditional Charity shop, including 2013 Charity Retail Wow! Factor Awards for Best Shop Interior. Already well known for their creative and innovative approach, this year they have set the bar high and raised an astonishing amount of Charity funds for their three services; The Children’s Air Ambulance, Warwickshire & Northamptonshire Air Ambulance, and Derbyshire, Leicestershire & Rutland Air Ambulance.

With no Government funding, this income provides the Charity with the much needed funds to ensure their crew can be on hand for patients in need, every day of the year. Their two midlands based Helicopter Emergency Medical Services have rescued over 15,000 people in the last ten years and the new Children’s Air Ambulance is the only free helicopter transfer service for seriously poorly babies who need urgent flights to specialist care. These vital funds make up over one third of the Charity’s essential income.

Growing from strength to strength, much of this success has been down to the inspiring leadership of Emma Vithlani, Director of Retail and Trading, who was also appointed as a Director for the Charity Retail Association in 2012, a national organisation that represents the needs of Charity retailers. Emma opened the charity’s first shop in 2010 and now celebrates an impressive £3million through the chain of 27 shops across the country.

Emma said: “It is just fantastic news that on the eve of Christmas our retail shops will achieve £3million worth of lifesaving income in 2013, this is a real milestone for the Charity. It’s all credit to our shop management and volunteers, who have all worked tirelessly throughout the year to achieve this outstanding figure.

“But none of this would be possible without the awe inspiring support of our wonderful shoppers, who have not only shopped with us but generously donated stock into our shops. On behalf of all of us at the Charity, I would like to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas and don’t forget us when you’re enjoying the post-Christmas sales – we have lots of fabulous bargains!”

The Charity has shops throughout the heartlands of Warwickshire, Northamptonshire, Derbyshire, Leicestershire and Rutland, as well as their most recent outlets in London and Birmingham. If you would like to support the Charity by visiting one of their shops to pick up a bargain, or would like to donate some of your unwanted Christmas presents, visit the website to find your nearest store: /shopping/on-the-high-street.