If you thought charity shops were housed in dinghy little buildings or bland high-streets, you must visit the Sue Ryder Thorpe Hall shop. Despite living in the area for a good few years, I always assumed Thorpe Hall was a wedding venue and so never really ventured in. However, I very excited to recently discover that it housed a Sue Ryder hospice and a charity shop. Such a perfect reason to write about a great shop, a great cause and also help my readers make some fab shopping savings!
The Sue Ryder shop is quaint and compact with very friendly staff. And yet, it housed a vast volume of truly beautiful china, vintage glassware, pottery, good quality clothing a even a few great books. My favourite items were an Orla Kiely style jacket that was in mint condition, a very quirky taxi brooch that has made my trinket box its new home, lovely and a some pretty sparkly ballerinas. I even found some classic books that were being sold for an absolute bargain.
Whilst on the subject of the shop, I think it is worth mentioning the charity itself and its inspirational founder. To quote wikipedia, "The Sue Ryder charity has been supporting people with complex needs and life-threatening illnesses for over fifty years. The charity supports people living with conditions including cancer, multiple sclerosis, dementia and stroke at 7 specialist palliative care centres, 6 care centres for people with complex conditions, 15 homecare services and a growing portfolio of tailored, community-based services." By shopping at the Sue Ryder charity shops, you are helping support a very worthy cause.
Whilst writing this post, I also read up a bit more about Sue Ryder herself. A truly amazing lady, she started her caring career volunteering at the First Aid Nursing Yeomanry during World War II at the very young age of fifteen. She spent a her post-war years undertaking more relief work before eventually establishing the Sue Ryder Foundation in 1953. Sue Ryder was a woman of faith and that helped her on her journey to provide help and care to thousands that desperately needed it. If you are interested in learning more about her work, it may be worth contacting the Sue Ryder folk who I'm sure would be happy to tell you more!
If you are still reading this and feeling positively moved, can I ask you to look up the Sue Ryder website and read about their Thorpe Hall Appeal. They are looking to expand the services provided at Thorpe Hall by building an extension for which they require £6 million by March 2015. There are a number of ways in which you can help and I suggest checking out the Thrope Hall Appeal page
Before I love you and leave you, here are my top tips for this charity shop. This is your place if you are looking for vintage china, good quality ceramics, wedding and mother of the bridge outfits and stunning silverware. Whilst stock at the shop is likely to vary and is dependent on donations, I have a feeling that this shop gets some truly unique and generous donations. More importantly, all donations stay there so they don't get shipped to any other store.
I hope you are able to make some time to visit the Sue Ryder shop when you are in the area and also take time to read up on the Thorpe Hall Appeal. Where else can you bag a unique bargain and also make your soul feel good? Ann x
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