The Rye Community Charity Shop has found a new home in Cinque Ports Street, at Number 41, currently a greetings card shop and next to estate agents Reeds Rains.
Kate Sims, Chair of the Management Committee, said: “We are delighted that having received such enormous support from local residents and businesses, we have been able to find suitable premises so quickly after having to close at the end of September”
The shop raises money for local organisations by selling second hand goods. First opened in April 2013, it was formerly at 7 Cinque Ports Street, near to Wish Ward and facing the top of Ferry Road and was run in partnership with local charity ARRCC who had the premises.
However that arrangement ended in September when a notice appeared announcing that the shop would close in days.
More than £20, 000 had been raised from sales for donations to many different local organisations, and local Member of Parliament Amber Rudd recently presented the latest round of grants.
The old shop has a notice up saying that ARRCC will shortly re-open it but, two months later, that has not yet happened.
Committee members of the Rye Community Charity Shop (pictured above on their stall at St Mary’s Christmas Fayre) lost no time in seeking out new premises after they moved out of Number 7 and, on January 11, they are back in business at Number 41 – and seeking charitable status.
“Having traded successfully for the past two and a half years in partnership with ARRCC, the management committee of the shop”, said Kate, “is pleased to announce that it has now applied for full charitable status and looks forward to serving the Rye community and helping its many charity and community groups go forward. And we would like to take this opportunity to thank all those who have supported us in the past and look forward to welcoming you in the New Year.”
Photo: Kenneth Bird