Homelessness charity Emmaus Gloucestershire is inviting local shoppers to a celebration for the official opening of its new Cheltenham charity shop on Tuesday 1 October from 10am to 5pm.
The shop, located in the former NatWest building at 147-151 Bath Road, will focus on sustainability and reuse, with all display fixtures created from second-hand donations, or DIY, and a range of pre-loved furniture, homewares, electricals, clothing, accessories, and upcycled pieces on offer.
The new shop marks the charity’s return to Cheltenham after closing its previous shop on Henrietta Street in 2021. It will be the fifth shop run by Emmaus Gloucestershire, helping to fund its vital work supporting formerly homeless people with a home, tailored support, training and meaningful work experience.
The charity, which has been preparing its new shop for more than a year, will be joined at the event by the Mayor of Cheltenham, Councillor Paul Baker, for a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 10am to mark the official opening.
Commenting on renovating the former NatWest building into a new charity shop, Malcolm Pitt, Business Manager at Emmaus Gloucestershire, said: “We are delighted to be opening our new Cheltenham charity shop and we are grateful for the incredible support we’ve received during this journey. The renovation of an 1820s property brought its own set of challenges, but our fantastic renovation team, contractors, architect and structural engineers have been nothing short of amazing. Their expertise has been crucial in helping us overcome the surprises that inevitably come with an older building. A huge thank you to everyone involved in bringing this project to life.
“We know that the second-hand market is becoming increasingly popular with consumers – it’s not just more sustainable and better for our planet, it’s more affordable and every penny spent does some good. We’re delighted to join the Bath Road community and serve residents with a huge mix of affordable household essential and unique pieces.”
The charity was supported by Bruton Young Design, Town & City Builders, Goodhind Engineering Consultants Ltd, and a range of subcontractors who contributed their expertise since the project began. The charity also received support from solicitors Howes Percival LLP in facilitating the acquisition of the building.
In addition to celebrating the shop’s opening, Emmaus Gloucestershire is inviting the local community to a Volunteer Meet & Greet on Thursday 12 September. This event will offer a chance for prospective volunteers to learn more about how they can get involved. There are a variety of roles available, including till and shop support, donation sorting, customer service and online sales. Those interested in attending can email joanna@emmausglos.org.uk for more information.
Following the event on Tuesday 1 October, the shop will be open seven days a week from 9am to 5pm Monday to Saturday and 10:30am to 4:30pm on Sunday. From Wednesday 2 October, Emmaus Gloucestershire will be accepting donations of good quality items in store.
Gloucester News Centre – http://gloucesternewscentre.co.uk
