New Hartlepool & District Hospice shop to open in Peterlee town centre

Hartlepool and District Hospice will be opening the large shop in Peterlee town centre on Monday, June 27.

The shop is already fully stocked with goods and organisers are hoping as many people as possible will go along and support it.

Karen Witherley, area manager for the charity, said they are delighted with the look of the new shop, which is in the former Ethel Austin premises, and have already gained a lot of support.

She said: “The rails are packed, we have clothes, furniture, DVDs and all sorts, its more what haven’t we got?

“We have had people knocking on the window saying that it is great to have a hospice shop in the town.

“It is great to have all this support even before we open, I think it is going to be really popular.”

Karen said all of the cash raised through the charity’s shops goes directly to supporting the work they do and the charity is very lucky in the support it receives.

She said: “This will be our 11th shop. People are so supportive of the hospice.

“I don’t think there are any people in Hartlepool or East Durham who haven’t been touched by the hospice in some way.”

Karen said there used to be a hospice shop in Peterlee town centre several years ago, but it was on the upper floor and did not benefit very much from passing trade.

She is hoping the new one will be more successful.

Karen said they have enough volunteers to get the shop up and running, but are looking for more to come on board to work at the new shop.

She said: “We are grateful for whatever time people can give, if its just a few hours or a few days a week. If anyone is interested they can just pop into the shop.”