Exactly 13 years on from the opening of its first charity shop in Shepton Mallet, last Friday the doors officially opened to SOS Africa’s new charity shop at 44 High Street to a fantastic reception from the local community.
Previously based at 21 High Street, the SOS Africa Charity Shop has received invaluable support from local residents and beyond for over a decade, enabling the charity to open 4 education centres supporting hundreds of disadvantaged children throughout 3 regions in South Africa.
The move itself was a race against time as Matt, Lin and the team had just a week to move stock, furniture, fixtures and fittings into the new premises, including the shop’s iconic resident, Monduli the giraffe, who is very happy in his new home.
The shop was officially declared open by long-term SOS Africa supporter and friend Fiona Case. One of our very first customers, Fiona has also helped the charity raise over £100,000 since 2013 by providing the SOS Africa volunteers with litter picking places at Glastonbury Festival.
And after being open for less than a week, it is clear that this hard work is already paying off as the shop has experienced record footfall and takings, generating unprecedented funds for our education projects in South Africa. The new shop is now open from 9am-4pm, Tuesdays-Saturdays.
Charity Shop Manager Lin is delighted by the response from the local community: “It has been wonderful to welcome back so many of our old customers and receive such positive feedback and support. It has also been a pleasure to see so many new faces and introduce them to our organisation and the wonderful children we support!”
Local resident Anne Dunford has volunteered in the shop for 10 years: “We are so proud of our new shop and really appreciate the lovely comments from our customers! It is bigger, brighter and in a great location. I missed volunteering at the shop whilst it was closed over the summer and am so glad that it is back and better than ever!”
