The shop that's turning your trash into treasure

EVERYONE loves a bargain, especially in these times of financial restraint.

And shoppers visiting any of the seven St Clare Hospice shops are  bound to find one. Even better, they will be supporting the charity at the same time.

St Clare’s Harlow shop at the St James Centre in East Road attracts hundreds of customers every day. It is an Aladdin’s Cave of shelves and rails filled with items donated by the public.

Shop volunteer Annette Eaves

Last year the shop received more than 16,000 donations of goods and almost 27,600 boxes or bags – an average of about 75 a day – were sorted by the dedicated team of volunteers.

Items given in at the Harlow shop are put out for sale or  taken to fill the shelves at any of the other six St Clare shops in Epping, Dunmow, Saffron Walden, Debden, Buckhurst Hill and Bishop’s Stortford.

Annette Eaves is one of the army of volunteers whose efforts enable the Harlow shop to stay open seven days a week. She has been a volunteer  for about six months, offering her help following the death of her husband Anthony, who was cared for at St Clare.

“It’s giving something back,” she said. “My husband died at the hospice and I always told myself that when I retired and I had time that I would come here to help.”

Annette, who lives in Harlow, spends an average of about two days a week helping to sort the bags of donated goods and stocking the shelves.

"Sometimes the piles of bags can be as high as me,” she said. “Whatever it is we can find a home for it.”

Such is the popularity of the shop that volunteers sometimes arrive in the morning and find people waiting for the shop to open. On average between 200 and 400 transactions a day are rung up on the till.

Louise Hamilton, the hospice’s retail sales manager, said: “We rely entirely on the generosity of the local community to give us goods and we are extremely grateful for their amazing on-going generosity and support.

“In the current economic climate there is lots of competition for donated goods. Other charities, local council recycling initiatives and businesses which buy textiles direct from the public are all chasing a dwindling supply of goods.”

Money raised through the shops goes straight back into helping the hospice provide its much valued services.

Louise said: “The care provided by St Clare is totally free of charge to patients, yet the cost to provide that care goes up year on year whilst our government funding remains static.”

She added: “If people can afford to support us financially that’s fantastic, much needed and greatly appreciated. However, if they can’t afford to give us cash donations they might still be able to help us by giving goods they no longer want.

“We always try to make the most out of every item we’re given. Expensive fashion items get sent to our boutique shop in Buckhurst Hill where we can achieve higher prices.

"Collectable items will be valued and either sent to auction or sold online and even goods which cannot be sold direct to the public can be sold on or recycled rather than put into landfill.”

Last year the shops made more than £108,000 just through recycling goods – mainly textiles – which were not suitable for sale in shops.

Martin Greene works as a distribution assistant three days a week collecting large items, usually furniture, from people’s homes and delivering it to the shops.

Martin, who is also a volunteer driver for the hospice’s day therapy sessions once or twice a week, said: “Yesterday I had to collect a mountain bike. We cannot accept electrical items but we assess every bit of furniture. As long as it is in good condition and furniture has its fire safety labels and is not ripped, we will take it.”

Martin became involved with the hospice in July 2009 when his long-time partner, Lynn, spent her final six days at St Clare when she was transferred from hospital in a coma.

Martin said: “The care she received was first rate; I can’t speak highly enough of it. We were fortunate to get her into the hospice. When you see what happens here you cannot fail to be impressed.”

Martin, who also lives in Harlow, said: “St Clare Hospice is a well-known charity in Harlow. A lot of people have personal connections and there are not too many other charity shops in Harlow which are specifically raising money for a Harlow-based organisation.”

Louise said: “When you are having a good spring clean and de-clutter, please think of St Clare Hospice and donate some of your formerly loved possessions to our Harlow shop. After all, one man’s trash is another man’s treasure and your donation will help local families at one of the most difficult times in their lives.”

St Clare’s shop in Harlow is open Monday to Saturday from 9.30am to 4.30pm and Sunday from 11am to 4pm. For more about the shops, ring the hospice’s retail team on (01279) 454596.