Wellingborough's YMCA charity shop to re-open next week

Wellingborough's YMCA charity shop is set to re-open next week.

After 12 weeks of being closed for business, YMCA Wellingborough in Northampton Road will be throwing open its doors and welcoming back customers, donors and staff on Monday (June 15).

Wellingborough is one of 19 stores due to re-open next week as part of YMCA England & Wales’ first phase, which aims to restore more than 40 shops to their local communities by the end of the month.

Across all of its re-opened stores, YMCA will be adhering to government guidelines with additional cleaning and social distancing measures, alongside hand gel stations at each entrance to ensure a safe environment for customers and colleagues.

Once doors are officially open donations to YMCA Wellingborough are welcome, and if donors have any questions or concerns before dropping items off, they can call ahead.

One challenge that the current crisis has created is that YMCA has fewer volunteers than before.

Alongside donations, staff are now also appealing for volunteers to help them get back up and running.

Without the dedication of hundreds of volunteers YMCA shops wouldn’t be possible, and so YMCA Wellingborough is calling on anyone locally who may be able to help to please get in touch.

Simon Green, head of retail at YMCA England & Wales, said: “The retail team have been working extremely hard to reopen stores in a way which keeps customers, staff and the community safe, and we can’t wait to welcome everyone back for the first time since March 23.

“It truly is a privilege to serve at the heart of communities, providing not only the chance for customers to find bargains and recycle goods, but also to gain employment experience and create new friendships.

"We have missed you and we are delighted to be back.”

Money raised at YMCA charity shops across England and Wales is used to help transform the lives of young people across almost 700 local communities.

From providing a warm bed for homeless young people to delivering mental health advice and counselling for those in need.

Every donation or hour volunteered makes a huge difference.

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