Charity shop hits the high street as Mind opens first superstore in Longton
Mental health charity Mind has opened its very first superstore on The Strand in Longton.
Mind’s shops have been on the high street for over 50 years and rely on over 3,000 volunteers and 450 dedicated staff across England and Wales to keep shops running.
All the shop’s profit goes to support Mind, for instance by helping the charity deliver care and support in local communities via its network of local Minds, or to fund vital advice and support services such as the Mind Infoline.
The average bag of items donated to Mind shops is worth around £30. This amount could help 45 people find hope during tough times on Mind’s online peer support community Side by Side or help Mind send out 250 information booklets, so people who are struggling with their mental health can make sense of what they are going through and find ways to cope.
The ribbon was cut by Jack Brereton, MP for Stoke-on-Trent South, who welcomed locals to the store alongside Andrew Vale, Managing Director of Mind Retail, and Mind’s Regional Manager, Teresa Utley.
Teresa Utley, Mind’s Regional Manager, said: “We’re so excited to welcome the people of Longton to this new Mind shop. Only with the community’s support will we be able to raise vital funds for Mind’s work such as the Infoline, information and advice services, and the campaigning Mind does to secure a better deal for the one in four of us who experience a mental health problem every year. There are very easy ways that everybody can get involved such as donating quality items, volunteering in the shop, or simply shopping at the store. I urge locals to visit the shop or get in touch to find out more about how they can support us.”
To support Mind, visit this link here
