Last updated 14:01, Friday, 14 November 2008

Volunteers at a small charity shop are celebrating this week after giving away £100,000 to worthy causes in Aspatria.

Left to right, Barbara Rowe, treasurer and Jean Holt, secretary

The fundraising store on Queen Street has reached the landmark figure just 12 years after it opened with the aim of collecting much-needed cash for community groups.

And the man who first came up with the idea of the shop hailed the sum as a fantastic achievement – praising townsfolks’ generosity.

Management committee chairman Duncan Stevenson said: “We are absolutely delighted that in a small rural town we have raised this amount of money just from unwanted items donated to charity.

“These funds have been directed straight back to the local people who support the shop through community groups.

“Since its opening, the charity shop has become well known far beyond Aspatria for its continually replenished ranges of clothing and household goods at low prices.

“Over the years, the generosity of people supporting the shop with their donations of unwanted items, coupled with our policy of keeping prices low, has built up a clientele who visit regularly and whose shopping has allowed use to reach this amazing figure of grants awarded.”

Among the organisations to benefit from grants from the shop are the team behind Aspatria’s Christmas lights, the town carnival, sports teams, disabled groups, mothers and toddlers and schools.

The shop is run by the Aspatria and District Community Charity Association. Its management committee considers requests for grants up to £500 an application to help organisations in the town and surrounding villages.

Mr Stevenson suggested opening a community fundraising shop in Aspatria after hearing a radio report of a similar one established in Scotland.

He was a parish councillor at the time, won the backing of colleagues and went on to help establish the charitable group behind it.

The shop’s success, Mr Stevenson says, is dependent on a continual supply of quality donated items and thanked all those who have given their unwanted property.

With few independent retailers left on Aspatria High Street, the chairman even believes they stock things that would otherwise be unavailable in the town.

He also praised the commitment of volunteers who work in the shop, some of whom have been involved since 1996, and added: “None of this would have happened without them.”

Groups are being urged to continue applying for grants.

Application forms are available from the shop – 63 Queen Street – or from charity association secretary Jean Holt on 016973 20306.