Charity shop gets TV-style makeover

Photo: Picture ANTHONY MILLER

Ready for action . . . pictured (from the left) are Heather Gate, Alison Quinn and Wendy Walker

A local housing association and building contractor transformed the Age Concern charity shop in Lees in a TV-style makeover.

The revamp came about through Guinness Northern Counties Housing Association’s Make a Difference challenge.

Each year staff go into the local community to see how they can make a difference.

This year, Guinness approached Age Concern and offered to do a makeover on the shop.

And contractor City Response donated all the materials and the services of a joiner to help the team complete the work.

Team member Karen Greenwood said: “Shop manager Bronwen Hamer was delighted with our offer and couldn’t believe we were doing it all for nothing. We wouldn’t even let her buy us dinner.

“There were 15 of us on the day, and it ran like a military operation.

“One team stayed in the shop painting, putting down laminate flooring and installing new shelving units, while the rest of us were tasked with sorting new stock, ironing and pricing.

“We had a fantastic day and we really made a difference.”

A grateful Bronwen said: “It was like Christmas come early.

“I oversee nine shops and the one in Lees really did need a makeover.

“It had been on list for 12 months, so when they offered to do the work for us we were absolutely thrilled to bits.”