Local couple fund new charity shop in Loughton
10 July 2013
A new charity shop will open in Loughton on 12 July, thanks to a generous Essex couple who have made it happen.
Paul and Kimberley Stevens, who live in Ongar, have invested in the shop as part of an award-winning scheme set up by Scope to fund new stores across the country.
The couple, who will be at the official store opening, also held a garden party for guests to bring along high-quality clothing, toys, books, CDs and other items, to make sure that the new Loughton store has its stock up and running.
The couple supported Scope to open the new shop because they want to support the community and make a real difference to disabled people's lives.
Opening a new charity shop
Kimberley Stevens says:
"Supporting Scope's new shop in Loughton is much better than simply donating money. Times are tough for disabled people and their families. Opening a shop provides Scope with a regular income that it can use in all its work to make this a better place for disabled people — whether it's befriending for parents struggling with the challenges of having a disabled child or running a campaign for better local support for disabled adults.
"Charity shops don't just support great work. They are the ultimate green business. Everything people bring in either gets sold to someone that can re-use it, sent to another shop where it has a better chance of being sold, or if it can't be sold then it's recycled."
Scope is inviting shoppers to pay its new store in Loughton a visit after opening to the public on Friday 12 July.
The Great Donate comes to Essex
Stephen Moody, Scope Area Manager, said:
"We are really excited about opening in Loughton, and are extremely grateful to Mr and Mrs Stevens for making this happen.
"We are asking people to bring in their unwanted clothes, CDs, homeware, accessories and books, as part of a big push to get one million donated items across the country this July into Scope shops. Everything donated will raise funds for our important work with disabled people and their families.
"Anyone interested in volunteering should give as a call on 020 8502 1328 or pop in at our Volunteer Open Day on 16 July from 10am at our new Loughton shop at 239 High Road, Loughton, to find out more."
Notes to the Editor:
Scope has around 240 charity shops in the UK and it is expanding its chain through an innovative scheme that allows donors to loan or donate £50,000 to open a new shop. Each shop then generates as much as £30,000 a year, which Scope can use as a source of on-going funding for its work.
Profits raised in the new shops will then go towards Scope's work with disabled people, of all ages, and their families, across England and Wales.
The scheme won the award for best philanthropy fundraising campaign at the Institute of Fundraising National Awards last week.
Scope offers practical, everyday support and delivers campaigns to change lives, with a vision of a world where disabled people have the same opportunities as everyone else.
This July, Scope has teamed up with the actress Lynda Bellingham to launch its Great Donate - One month, one million Items challenge to encourage people to take their clothes and other unwanted items to the charity's 250 high-street shops. All money raised will support Scope's work to make the country a better place for disabled people and their families.
The new Scope store in Loughton will be located at 239 High Road. To attend the opening, or for more information on Scope's retail investment scheme, contact the Scope Media Team on 020 7619 7200 or email pasca.lane@scope.org.uk
Scope works with disabled people, of all ages, and their families, across England and Wales. We offer practical, everyday support and deliver campaigns that can change lives. Our vision is a world where disabled people have the same opportunities as everyone else. Together we can create a better society.
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