Win a day with the Red Arrows by supporting Lincs and Notts Air Ambulance

A Christmas auction is being held on behalf of the Lincs and Notts Air Ambulance charity, where bidders could be in with the chance of winning over 70 unique prizes – including a VIP day with the Red Arrows.
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The Christmas auction, launched by members of the Lincolnshire Air Ambulance Countryside Appeal (LAACA) means bidders can win some fabulous prizes including a VIP day with the Red Arrows, relaxing breaks in stunning cottages, days out at Henley for the Regatta, an exhilarating skydiving experience, a VIP visit to RAF Coningsby with a chance to ride a flight simulator or tickets to the football.

Last year, the LAACA committee held their first bi-annual luncheon and auction on behalf of the Lincs and Notts Air Ambulance which raised a staggering £80,000. With the second event due to take place this year, the decision was made to move the auction online due to Covid-19.

As part of the auction, the committee are hoping to raise over £40,000 for the Lincs and Notts Air Ambulance. These vital funds will support the charity’s lifesaving work.

Fundraising has been tough for the Lincolnshire and Nottinghamshire Air Ambulance this year. EMN-201118-171521001Fundraising has been tough for the Lincolnshire and Nottinghamshire Air Ambulance this year. EMN-201118-171521001
Fundraising has been tough for the Lincolnshire and Nottinghamshire Air Ambulance this year. EMN-201118-171521001

Karen Carter, Fundraising Manager at Lincs and Notts Air Ambulance, said: “Although this year’s LAACA luncheon has been cancelled, it has not stopped the committee in their quest to support our charity. We’d like to thank all LAACA committee members for their incredible efforts in organising this fantastic online auction to help raise funds for us during a difficult year. With over 70 unique prizes to bid on, there really is something for everyone.

“We’ve seen a significant drop in our income this year, and we need your help more than ever. If you can, please consider registering for this online auction and be in the chance to win some fantastic prizes.”

The auction site is already open with bidding continuing until Sunday, November 22.

To take part in the online auction, visit www.lincolnshireairambulancecountyappeal.com

As the second lockdown forces charity shops to close again, the air ambulance charity’s online listing expert is carefully sorting through donations at the Waddington warehouse to find gems to be sold on eBay.

The hub was one of the charity’s shops which had to close in the first lockdown but as the team worked behind the scenes, it became apparent that this location would be perfect for plans to improve the charity’s online selling presence.

Head of Retail and Volunteering, Diane Eyre said: “Thanks to the generous donations we get from our communities, we now have a rich and varied tapestry of items to sell online. We’re starting small and making sure we get it right.

“As this is an avenue we haven’t fully explored before, we’re optimistic that it’s an area of real growth – with the opportunity being that we can continue this work in the midst of the pandemic.”

The impact of Covid-19 and the first lockdown in March, saw the charity halt its fundraising events and close all charity shops. The retail estate was already under review and the decision has now been taken to permanently close four shops in Ashby, Retford, Spalding and Sutton.

Diane said: “These shops had suffered over the years from the growing prevalence of online shopping and other factors that over time have affected footfall in high streets up and down the country.

“It hasn’t been an easy or quick decision, but the pandemic added some pressure to our ongoing review process, and we realised that we would need to make these changes.”

Gill Andrews, a long-serving volunteer who is helping to close the Ashby shop said: “We are all incredibly sad that it’s closing completely but I understand the pressures the charity is under and the decision to close.”

The Mansfield Woodhouse, Mapperley, Wragby and Stapleford stores remain part of the LNAA charity shop estate and will reopen when it is safe to do so. Staff and volunteers at these locations had been working in-store when trading was given the green light in August.

“The staff and volunteers who run our shops are some of the most dedicated people you could meet and before this lockdown, they’d adapted brilliantly to new ways of working. A huge thankyou goes to them,” added Diane.

For people who still want their pre-loved shopping fix now the shops are closed, visit the eBay store ambucopter6 at https://www.ebay.co.uk/usr/ambucopter6