Birthday bash for ‘vital’ Arundel charity shop

The Chestnut Tree House charity shop, in Crown Yard Mews, celebrated a decade in which it has raised more than £400,000 for West Sussex’s only children’s hospice, Chestnut Tree House, at Poling, despite being the smallest of the organisation’s four retail outlets.

The shop opened in 2002, before the hospice became operational, helping to raise the vital funds needed to get the hospice up and running.

The shop’s staff and volunteers were joined by Guy Clinch, Chestnut Tree House’s chairman of trustees, to celebrate the landmark event.

Guy thanked manager Maryanne Mills and her staff of 20 dedicated volunteers for their years of hard work.

He added: “Our charity shops are so important as they are our window into the community. They give local people the opportunity to find out more about the vital work of the hospice, which happens every single day, right on their own doorstep.”

Colin Wakefield, head of retail for Chestnut Tree House, praised all those in Arundel who had supported the charity store over the years.

He added that the charity shop was always looking for donations to help support the hospice – anything from clothes, books and DVDs to toys and bric-a-brac. For information on how to donate, call 01903 741719 or visit, Chestnut Tree House’s website