Charity begins in the shops
CHARITY shops have a significant presence in so many high streets across Britain today. Some may argue too big a presence, claiming they can bring down the look and feel of a shopping district.
But their economic value should not be underestimated. 11,000 of them in the UK are said to raise a collective £270m. a year for all kinds of charitable causes, plus offering workplace or volunteering opportunities within their communities.
As an island we’re certainly not short of them in St Peter Port or on the Bridge, where they have probably been more noticeable. And the Bridge includes the Citizens Advice shop, now under threat from the imminent Leale’s Yard development.
The Friends of Citizens Advice Charity Shop is staffed entirely by volunteers and is open six days a week. It is always seeking donations of good quality furniture, books, bric-a-brac, clothing and toys.
Last year it made £68,000 for Citizens Advice, nearly 40% of the charity’s income, but could now close before the end of the year. The charity has said it will need to find a new business model, particularly if the volunteer Friends consider giving up when the change comes.
It’s a precarious future for such a valuable charity as Citizens Advice, which supported more than one in 20 islanders last year, over a range of problems. And a reminder of the positive power of the charity shop – whether we are buying or donating.