Jane Birch is our new Volunteer Coordinator; her previous role was as a Criminal Justice Commissioner for a Drug and Alcohol Action Team, and has worked in the substance misuse field for over 30 years.
As well as recruiting, developing and training volunteers for our services in Blackburn, Salford and Wigan she is currently working to open a Charity/Vintage Shop in Blackburn town centre.
All charities working with the most disadvantaged in society, particularly in an area of significant deprivation like Blackburn with Darwen, are facing real challenges and THOMAS is no exception.
We are seeing more and more people at our Drop In centre in Blackburn who turn to us for support through our community based services.
Increased poverty, unemployment and day to day stresses increase the number of people who become involved in substance misuse.
There is more limited local authority funding available which makes it harder for us to find referrals for our residential rehabilitation unit, Witton Bank, which is why we are looking to open our own shop in the town centre, to generate another source of income for the organisation.
The shop is on Darwen Street opposite the Cathedral and is due to open its doors in the New Year, once some minor repairs and building work are completed.
We have had excellent support from a number of places including Trevor Dawson Chartered Surveyors who found us the premises and negotiated a competitive rent and lease agreement on our behalf.
Charities@SAMS Project have been kind enough to offer us items to help with the refurbishment and with things to sell in the shop as well as being a great source of ideas and inspiration, Herbert Parkinson have donated high quality ‘slight seconds’ John Lewis curtains, cushion covers and fabric, all of which have made the idea of a Charity/Vintage shop a reality.
We are looking for donations of good quality clothes & shoes, jewellery, bric-a-brac, books, toys, music, small kitchen & household wares, soft furnishings etc. so if you have any unwanted items please contact Jane on 01254 660861.
Or would you like to volunteer in the shop, help out serving customers or sorting and preparing donations to sell, arranging displays and generally making the shop look fabulous, then again please contact Jane on 01254 660861.
Your help and support will be gratefully received and will ensure this exciting new venture for THOMAS is an overwhelming success.
