Sara Lee Trust opens big new charity shop in St Leonards

The new shop will officially open its doors at 1pm on Friday 23 October, giving shoppers the chance to explore a wide range of pre-loved goods while supporting the Trust’s vital work in the local community. Located at 11–15 Sedlescombe Road North in Silverhill, the new shop is arranged in a retro style department store layout, including a value shop, menswear, womenswear, a vintage boutique, bookshop, Haberdashery and more. Supporters of the Trust will also be able to donate goods, including larger items such as furniture, DIY items, and more at the Donation Centre. Dan Redsull, Trust CEO, said: “We are incredibly excited to be opening this new shop during such a special year for The Sara Lee Trust. Our 30th anniversary is a wonderful opportunity to celebrate everything that has been achieved with the support of our local community, and this new shop and donation centre will help us continue that work for many years to come.” “A huge thank you to everyone who helped make our new shop a reality. With special thanks to Sam Gerken and the whole team at PumpHouse Designs, Justin Batchelor and the team at The Works Commercial Services, and to the wonderful team members and volunteers who worked so hard to get everything ready. We’re incredibly grateful to everyone who played a part in bringing this project to life.” The Sara Lee Trust supports local people affected by cancer and other life-threatening illnesses across Hastings and Rother by providing free counselling, complementary therapies and group activities.

With such a challenging financial climate the development of this new charity shop is critical to the Trust being able to maintain its current level of care and support for around 1,000 local people every year.