Home — Essex & Herts Air Ambulance Officially Opens 11th Charity Shop on Canvey Island

09 January 2026

Essex & Herts Air Ambulance Officially Opens 11th Charity Shop on Canvey Island

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Essex & Herts Air Ambulance celebrated the official opening of its newest charity shop on Thursday 8^th January, with a ribbon-cutting ceremony attended by local dignitaries, charity leadership, and members of the community.

The ribbon was cut by pilot Ben Tate, with the town’s Mayor Sheridan Sayer and Deputy Mayor Sue Brooke joining the celebration at the shop’s location on 39-41 Furtherwick Road. Also in attendance were EHAAT CEO Mark Jarman-Howe, Retail Director Leila Clarke, assistant shop manager Cheryl Mara, and the dedicated team of volunteers who will help run the store.

This milestone marks the opening of EHAAT’s 11th retail location and represents a significant expansion of the charity’s community presence across the region.

The new shop opened its doors to customers on 22nd December and has already received a warm welcome from the Canvey Island community. Located in the heart of the high street, the store offers pre-loved clothing, books, bric-a-brac, toys, and official EHAAT merchandise.

A standout feature of the Canvey shop is its large, dedicated bookshop area—a first for EHAAT charity shops. The shop also accepts donations at an easy-access point at the back door off Folksville Road, making it convenient for supporters to contribute.

Leila Clarke, Retail Director at EHAAT, said: “We are absolutely delighted to officially open our doors on Canvey Island. The team has worked incredibly hard behind the scenes to create such a welcoming and attractive space, and I’m immensely proud of what they’ve achieved. The response from the local community has been overwhelming, whether it’s customers browsing for treasures or generous residents donating items. This support makes all the difference to our life-saving work, and we’re grateful to everyone who has already embraced the shop as part of the Canvey high street.”

All proceeds from the shop support EHAAT’s life-saving mission across Essex, Hertfordshire, and surrounding areas, helping critical care teams be there for people on the worst day of their lives.