EACH has acquired a shop in High Street, to be opened at 10am next Thursday (4 October). Liam Johnson, 12, who netted £22,509 for the charity by organising two football matches in memory of his twin sister, Lucy, who died in April, will cut the ribbon.
The shop will offer the same range of high-quality goods customers of EACH’s 33 other shops across the region are used to, focusing specifically on ladieswear and helping fund the care and support of children and young people with life-threatening conditions and their families.
In addition, on opening day, it will offer a range of T-shirts, jeans and more donated by Suffolk singing sensation and EACH Ambassador Ed.
Gillian Platell, Shop Manager, said: “Ed’s clothing was a feature at some EACH shop openings last year and we’re very lucky to have the last lot here for Ely shoppers.
“Please do come along to celebrate with us and, perhaps, get your hands on a piece of Ed’s clothing. We’re very much looking forward to becoming part of the Ely community.”
Ed, 27, has been a major supporter of EACH since linking up with the good cause in 2014.
The Shape of You singer performed exclusively for EACH at its gala dinner in November 2016, marking his return to performing after a year-long hiatus. The event at the Natural History Museum raised over £260,000.
That came shortly after the charity sold more than 100 items of Ed’s clothing in an online auction, raising some £8,000, as well as his teenage drum kit that went for £2,650.
Ed has also paid a visit to EACH’s Treehouse hospice in Ipswich and taken part in a music therapy session with children.
EACH opened five shops last year, including one in Cherry Hinton. As well as a shop in Soham, the charity has opened four in Norfolk, one in Suffolk and one in Essex so far in 2018. This latest one in Ely will be its 34th overall. EACH shops generated an impressive profit of over £900,000 in the past financial year.
Donations of the following clean and good-quality goods, to sell, are always welcomed: clothing, bric-a-brac, modern paperbacks, toys, jewellery, DVDs/CDs, household linens, retro and vintage clothes and small electrical items. These can be dropped off at the Ely shop from Monday (1 October).
EACH also needs donations of good-quality furniture and can collect it free of charge if you are unable to transport it yourself. Contact its Retail Distribution Centre on 01842 821620 for more information.
To put into context the difference just a small donation to a shop can make to the vital work EACH does, here are some examples of what your donation could pay for:
- A top, skirt or pair of trousers worth £5 could pay for art supplies for a session of art therapy
- A tea set worth £10 could fund a nursing care kit
- A nice wedding hat or jacket worth £20 could pay for a support group for siblings
- An item of good-quality furniture or prom dress worth £35 could pay for an hour of specialist care.
The new shop will be accepting cakes for EACH’s stall at Ely Cathedral’s Christmas Gift & Food Fair in November, too. Cakes must be donated in decent quality tubs with lids.
Anyone interested in more information on volunteering at the Ely shop should email volunteerservices@each.org.uk or call Sarah on 07540 335680.