Help sought after hospice shop break-in

Forget Me Not Children’s Hospice is appealing for help from the local community following a break-in at its new charity shop in Royton.

The charity was only recently handed the keys to the new retail unit in Royton, which is located at the old central garage petrol station on Oldham Road.

To mark the opening, Forget Me Not hosted an event over the Easter weekend with a pop-up tea shop, games and Easter-themed activities.

Many families and residents from the local area attended the official opening on Easter Saturday, March 31, but the celebrations were short-lived as that evening, the shop was broken into.

The thieves vandalised the retail unit by smashing glass windows and doors, damaging internal fire doors and pulling apart the till area.

They pulled the safe off the wall and stole approximately £500 of takings and the float money. Police are now investigating the incident.

Staff and volunteers pulled together on Easter Sunday to help tidy and fix the shop, so they could open as planned on Easter Monday, April 2. 

Kirsty Franks, general manager of Forget Me Not's sister shop, Grace’s Place in Radcliffe, said: “Understandably we’re all shaken up by the break-in that took place over the weekend.

"The team worked so hard to put on a really fun opening event, and it’s heart-breaking that the weekend, which was supposed to be a celebration and bring local people together, was ruined in this way.

"But I’m extremely proud of our staff and volunteers for pulling together to make sure we could open as planned this week.

“More than ever though we need the support from the local community.

"As well as donating quality, unwanted items such as clothes, books, toys, household items and furniture, we’re asking people to please stop by our new shop to take a look and buy some of the great stock we have. 

“We’re so close to opening the doors to our new children’s hospice, but we need to raise as much money as possible to make sure we can help the children and families in North Manchester who need our care and support.

"The break-in over the weekend is a step back, but I’m confident with the continued support of our staff, volunteers, fundraisers and people in the local community we’ll be able to get back on track.”

Forget Me Not initially took over Grace’s Place in Bury last year.

After reaching its first fundraising target at Christmas, the charity is already offering a Hospice at Home service to some of the 650 children with life-shortening conditions and their families in Bury, Rochdale and Oldham. 

Forget Me Not plans to open the children’s hospice on Dumers Lane for in-house and overnight care in October, 2018.