The event was attended by the Mayor of Launceston, Helen Bailey, and long-serving volunteer Paul Ford, both of whom were invited to cut the ribbon and declare the shop officially open. 

With cakes and fizz at the ready, the Cornwall Air Ambulance team gathered to welcome the Launceston community. The shop is located on Launceston's High Street, where M&Co used to be.

The charity, which is based in Newquay and began in 1987, is one that is close to the hearts of many in the county. Cornwall Air Ambulance responds to more than 1,000 incidents annually in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, and relies on the generosity of its supporters to continue its vital service. 

The charity shops, of which there are now seven, with an eighth opening in Truro later this year, generate funds to support the efforts to save lives here in Cornwall.

Speaking of the Launceston shop, Jen Morgan, fundraising officer, said: “We’re based in Newquay, so it’s really nice to have this base in North Cornwall and to have a presence in this part of the county. We’re excited about the new supporters we will meet along the way.”

Last year, the charity received a whopping one-million donations across their charity shops, and sold 362,000 items. Chief executive, Tim Bunting, encourages people in Launceston to have a rummage through their wardrobes and to donate any unwanted quality items. He said: “Ultimately, our shops help save lives, so I’m really excited about the opening of the Launceston store today. We are Cornwall’s charity, so we leapt at the chance to have this shop space when it became available, and learnt a lot from our shop in Wadebridge, making a few subtle changes and improvements. There are some absolute bargains to be found here!”

Paul Ford, who lives in Launceston and has volunteered for Cornwall Air Ambulance for ten years, was delighted to be invited to cut the ribbon. Previously, he was a trustee of the Wiltshire Air Ambulance before moving to Cornwall, at which time he decided to volunteer for the Cornwall Air Ambulance, and has been doing it ever since!

He said: “I’ve been encouraging the charity for a long time to have a charity shop here in Launceston. North East Cornwall seems to be the forgotten area of the county, but this is going to help bring more people into Launceston. I feel very proud that they have asked me to share the ribbon cutting today.

“We were the very first air ambulance in the country, and that was 38 years ago! We built the base in Newquay, which actually invites people to come and see the helicopter. If people would like to know more about the charity, then contact the base because we would be more than happy to come and do a talk for local groups or schools.”

Mayor of Launceston, Helen Bailey, was also delighted to join the celebrations on the day, describing the shop opening as ‘positive’ for the town. She said: “It’s really positive that we have this shop here in Launceston. The town relies on the air ambulance so much, because we are so far away from Derriford. I’m really pleased that the community can continue to support the charity.”

At 10am, Cllr Bailey and Paul stood outside to greet a gathering crowd, before cutting the ribbon to declare the shop open for business. People were eager to get inside, have a browse and support Cornwall Air Ambulance’s vital work. 

For more information about Cornwall Air Ambulance, visit https://cornwallairambulancetrust.org/

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