New charity shop opens in March

The Arthur Rank Hospice Charity has opened a new shop in March.

The outlet, at 20 Broad Street, joins the five Arthur Rank Hospice Charity shops in Cambridgeshire and the surrounding area, in addition to the charity’s retail hub and retail outlet in Pampisford.

The dedicated staff and volunteer team are looking forward to welcoming new customers, seven days a week.

Visitors can look forward to new stock of good quality women’s and children’s clothes, menswear, select designer clothing, bric-a-brac, books and media.

The shop will be open from 9am-5pm Monday to Saturday and from 10am-4pm on Sundays.

All proceeds from the shop will go to support people in Cambridgeshire living with an advanced serious illness or other life-limiting condition and those who need end of life care.

Services are provided free of charge to the patient and their families, at the Alan Hudson Centre in Wisbech, in their own homes in the community or at the hospice in Cambridge.

Customers were queuing at the door as the ribbon was cut by Carol West, to officially open the new store, on June 20.

Carol’s husband, George was cared for by the Hospice at Home team before he died in October last year. Carol explained the difference the team had made to her and her husband of nearly 60 years.

“They were wonderful. Because of them, during the last two weeks that Geroge was alive, I could stop being a carer and become a wife again. I could just be with him.”

Healthcare assistants, Leah Turner and Kerri Stukins, who cared for George and supported Carol, were at the opening along with Arthur Bear!

Carol continued: “I am now volunteering at the shop and have been helping to get it ready, as I want to give back to the charity who really helped me and George.”

If you would like to volunteer at the shop or if you have any pre-loved items you would like to donate, please go along to the shop or telephone: 01354 577001.

Around 3,600 patients each year are cared for at the Hospice in Cambridge, the Alan Hudson Day Treatment Centre in Wisbech and in patients’ own homes via the Arthur Rank Community Team.