Great Western Air Ambulance Charity opens first North Somerset shop in Portishead
On Tuesday 8 April, Great Western Air Ambulance Charity (GWAAC) opened the doors to its first shop within North Somerset in the heart of Portishead. The new shop is now GWAAC’s twelfth to operate within its wider region and its third shop opening of the year so far.
GWAAC is inviting residents and visitors to the area to come in and explore the sustainable and ethical selection of second-hand clothes, accessories, and household goods. The new shop, which occupies the former Freemans Television shop, at 47 High Street, Portishead, is open from 09:00 to 17:00 Monday to Saturday. A warm welcome awaits and there is an opportunity to learn more about GWAAC’s impactful work in North Somerset.
The Portishead shop also offers the convenience of a designated donation drop-off zone, located at the back of the property within a small customer parking area. Clear signage directs donors to the drop-off point, making it even easier to support GWAAC by giving pre-loved items.
Welcoming GWAAC to Portishead
A launch event on the first day of trading brought together new Portishead shop volunteers, residents, and GWAAC’s corporate partners, including the RNLI and Port Bar, to share stories and express gratitude for the hard work that went into opening GWAAC’s third shop of 2025. This follows the launch of its Bristol and Brockworth shops in February and March, respectively. Operations Officer Tim Ross-Smith visited the shop in the critical care car, and GWAAC’s helicopter, Helimed 65, performed a fly-by overhead just after the ribbon-cutting ceremony, marking a memorable moment in the celebration.
Dawn and Tam at the Phoenix Bar in Portishead cut the ribbon, marking their long-standing support for GWAAC. Since 2014, they’ve raised £14,400—driven by a personal connection after Dawn’s partner, Sean, was attended by GWAAC’s crew in 2019. Our Critical Care Team attended Sean, but sadly could not save him. The Phoenix Bar’s dedication reflects the Portishead community’s commitment to keeping GWAAC’s lifesaving service running.
During the ribbon ceremony, Dawn’s Nephew, Sam Hughes, shared his story with GWAAC:
“Great Western Air Ambulance Charity is our charity of choice at the Phoenix Bar in Portishead after they attended Dawn’s long-term partner in 2019. We’ve run various events to raise funds, and last year we raised the full amount to have a defibrillator attached to the back of our premises. It is our absolute pleasure to open this store today.”
GWAAC’s Head of Retail, Jason Webster, shared his heartfelt appreciation, emphasising the significance of the charity’s presence in the heart of the community:
“I’m delighted to have opened our first shop in North Somerset! Portishead has a fantastic community and is one of those areas where charity shops really stand out. You can expect amazing service from a fantastic team of volunteers, and great products at great prices — all helping to raise funds for Great Western Air Ambulance Charity.”
Support GWAAC’s Portishead shop
With patient numbers rising year on year, money raised by the Portishead shop will help keep North Somerset’s critical care and air ambulance service operational.
In 2024, 277 people in North Somerset needed GWAAC’s help, making up 12% of GWAAC’s total missions. Overall, people in North Somerset needed an air ambulance crew 331 times. The crew of GWAAC responded to 84% of these call-outs, with the remainder serviced by neighbouring air ambulance crews.
For residents interested in becoming a retail volunteer, GWAAC is hosting a volunteer taster morning in the shop on Tuesday 22 April, from 10:00 to 12:00. This is an open invitation for those keen to meet the friendly new shop team, experience what it’s like to be a retail volunteer, and enjoy a personal tour of the shop.
To learn more about retail volunteering, visit the volunteer page on the charity’s website or contact GWAAC’s Retail Volunteer Officer, Katie, at Katie.Goolden@gwaac.com.
