Safety first for Wigan charity shops as they look to reopen

The Government said charity shops are among retailers that can resume trading from June 15 but one charity has said it will only commit to reopening once it is safe to do so.

Wigan and Leigh Hospice said its intention is to start reopening shops one at a time as soon as it has adequate measures in place to keep volunteers and customers safe.

It has sent a letter to all of its volunteers asking them how they feel about returning and to ask them if they have any concerns or ideas about how when the shops could reopen.

The hospice, which has 13 shops across the borough and a team of 400 volunteers, said in a statement: “We will be listening to our volunteers and their responses will help us to plan for a phased reopening of the shops.

“Our intention is to start reopening shops one at a time as soon as we have adequate measures in place to keep volunteers and customers safe.

“Their safety is our priority and we will not open any of our shops until we are confident in this.”

Among safety measures it will put in place are perspex around tills and PPE such as masks, gloves and aprons for volunteers.

The shops will be cleaned twice a day which is likely to mean that opening hours will change, while changing rooms will be closed.

It is in the process of ensuring that card payments can be accepted in all its shops and will urge customers to use contactless payments where possible but will also accept cash payments.

The charity said it does not intend to accept donations or to collect or deliver furniture until it has planned for the safe storage and sorting of donations.

But one charity which will open its charity shops on June 15 is Age UK Lancashire which has a number of shops across the borough.

Charity bosses are looking for volunteers to help them out .

The charity are encouraging people to drop off their donations to any of their shops.

Applying to volunteer is really simple and can be done online by visiting www.ageuk.org.uk/lancashire/get-involved/volunteer/shop-volunteering/

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