Dr Kershaw’s to re-open its charity shops

Dr Kershaw’s has announced the phased re-opening of its portfolio of charity shops, following the Covid-19 pandemic lockdown, with its Shaw charity shop based on Market Street being the first to open on June 15.

The Hospice, which has seen a significant drop in funding due to the cancellation of a number of fundraising events and the closing of its shops within the borough, is looking forward to reopening its shops over the coming weeks to help secure vital income for patient care.

Throughout the pandemic, the managers have been working tirelessly to get all the shops ready for re-opening, putting enhanced health and safety and social distancing measures in place to ensure the safest shopping environment.

All employees have been trained appropriately and will be provided with the required PPE, and the Hospice has ensured that all measures adhere to guidance provided by the Government and Public Health England.

Each shop will have a one-way system throughout the store, with floor markers helping to guide customers and adhere to social distancing guidelines as set out by the Government.

The shops have temporarily closed fitting rooms, and customers are asked, where possible, to pay by contactless payment.

There will be a reduced number of customers allowed in the store at any one time, with all customers being asked to queue outside and to use the hand sanitiser provided on entry.  

The shops will also be introducing cleaning throughout the day which will include regularly disinfecting high touch points such as door handles and hand rails.

For customers’ peace of mind, any donations which have been received will be ‘quarantined’ for the suggested 72 hours and cleaned before being made available in store for purchase, in order to prevent any contamination.

It costs £3.6million a year to run Dr Kershaw’s Hospice, and the shops help to provide vital income towards palative and end-of-life care for patients living within the local community.

Shopping in the Hospice shops will help a patient to spend their last days with their loved ones, pain-free, in comfort and with dignity.

More information on when the rest of the charity’s shops will be opening will be made available on the Hospice’s website: www.drkershawshospice.org.uk and on the Hospice’s social media platforms.

Rebecca Bentham, Head of Income Development, said: “We are excited to be able to re-open our Hospice shops and welcome back our customers.

"We have put in place all necessary measures to ensure a safe shopping environment for our customers’ and staff’s protection, and we ask the public to please follow the guidelines provided for their own safety.

"Customers’ support is vital in keeping the Hospice open, and shopping in our shops will help make a difference to someone else within your community – someone else’s mother or father, someone else’s son or daughter, someone else’s friend.

"We look forward to welcoming you back to Dr Kershaw’s Hospice shops and seeing you soon.”

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