New shop will support work of Wellingborough charity which helps the vulnerable

The Daylight Shop in Sheep Street opened its doors to customers on Tuesday (September 25).

The shop, which will be manned entirely by volunteers, will be open from 10am to 4pm Tuesday to Saturday.

It has several rooms selling items for the home, a rummage room, a ‘Handbags and Gladrags’ room and a cafe which is due to open soon once more volunteers come forward to help.

The old Yorkshire Bank in Sheep Street will house the ‘Yorkshire Tea Stop’ in the area where the cashiers used to sit.

All proceeds will go to support the work of the Daylight Centre which is seeing increasing numbers of people registering for help.

And as Universal Credit comes online in this area in November, they are expecting to see even more people wanting help with benefit queries, housing advice and help from the foodbank.

Daylight Centre trustee Valerie Anslow said: “The trustees of the Daylight Centre are excited at the new funding stream that will enable the centre to develop and expand the work it does for those who are homeless, or vulnerable and lonely.

“Each day up to 40 people visit the centre for a hot meal, a shower and advice in a friendly welcoming environment.

“The Daylight Centre also administers the foodbank for the borough and the number of food parcels given out each day continues to rise.

“The shop is looking for donations of goods to sell, but cannot take duvets, pillows or furniture.”

Anyone wanting to volunteer can contact the Daylight Centre or pop into the shop for a form.

The Daylight Centre is also a partner in the homeless forum which is hoping to use the Embankment Club as a winter night shelter if the change of use application is approved by Wellingborough Council’s planning committee.

Valerie added: “Once again this venture is being funded entirely by donations from the public, sponsorship and a £500 grant from the council to put the change of use plans together.

“The trustees of the Daylight Centre would like to thank the people of the borough and beyond for their continued support of the charity which has recently been endorsed by a visit of HRH The Princess Royal to the Centre in High Street.

“It is a salutatory thought that most people are only three wage packets away from needing the foodbank or finding themselves facing homelessness.”

For more information about the work of the Daylight Centre, click here