Andrew Bridgen MP joins national charity campaign for more donations to charity shops
Andrew Bridgen MP this week joined forces with major UK charities including Air Ambulance, Cancer Research UK, British Red Cross, Barnardo’s, Oxfam and the British Heart Foundation – as well as hundreds of local hospices and smaller charities – in a drive to generate more donations for charity shops.
Andrew Bridgen MP supported the Choose Charity Shops campaign, led by the Charity Retail Association, by making a donation of items to Derbyshire, Leicestershire & Rutland Air Ambulance shop, 37 Market St, Ashby-De-La-Zouch.
Andrew spoke to staff working on the day and gained a better understanding of all the ranging tasks to complete at the shop and to drive donations in. Andrew was also very placed to learn that Charlotte a Volunteer from Ashby has been nominated for an award, honouring her commitment.
The Charity Retail Association has said that charity shop popularity is at an all time high.
Charity shops now raise over £200 million every year for a huge range of charitable causes and they reduce the UK’s carbon emissions by 3.7 million tonnes every year through reusing items. They also support 180,000 volunteering opportunities and 17,000 jobs.
But charity shops thrive on donations of unwanted items from members of the public, and many are struggling to get enough through the door. This week nearly 6,000 charity shops in the UK are coming together to ask members of the public to make a donation to a charity shop in their area and pledge to donate to charity shops for the coming year. Events are taking place across the country to support the campaign.
Warren Alexander, Chief Executive of the Charity Retail Association, said: “Charity shops simply can’t survive without donations from the public, and we are delighted to have Andrew Bridgen MP supporting the campaign in North West Leicestershire.”
Photo: Andrew Bridgen MP supports the 'Choose Charity Shops' campaign at the Derbyshire, Leicestershire & Rutland Air Ambulance shop in Ashby. Pictured with Kerry Martin, Area Manager; Shirley, Assistant Store Manager; Charlotte, Volunteer and Rebecca, Store Manager.
