Bargains galore at Wigan charity shop as lockdown is used to declutter homes

The lifting of lockdown restrictions has seen shoppers return to the high street, with non-essential retailers able to serve customers once more.

The Brick’s shop on Gidlow Lane is no different, with the store experiencing an unprecedented amount of donations.

The charity works with people who are homeless, living in poverty, experiencing debt crisis or fleeing domestic violence, and the profits from its shops in Wigan and Leigh provide much-needed funds.

Harriet Foxon, finance and commercial manager at The Brick, said: “As soon as our charity shops reopened on April 12 there were queues of people looking to donate.

“I have never experienced a time when we received so many donations or welcomed so many new customers as well as our regular, loyal customers.

“I’m excited that we are open again, and I know that the staff are just as pleased to be back and to serve our customers and the community.

“The Brick shops are vital, in that not only do we sell affordable items to customers, but we also provide welfare packages, ranging from clothing to household furniture and furnishings, to some of the most vulnerable in our society and we make the move into housing just that bit more comfortable for people.

“It is only with donations from the community that we can continue to provide this help and support and I am so proud to be a part of it.”

The Brick charity shop has been inundated with clothing and bedding donations, but it also needs bric-a-brac and small electrical items, with white goods in especially high demand from people looking for affordable items.

Keely Dalfen, finance and commercial director, said: “The Brick’s charity shops are not just retail spaces, we also donate goods from our shops to people who are in need, who may be fleeing domestic violence, or are starting again with nothing but the clothes on their backs.

“We have seen a huge increase in demand from the people we work with for affordable white goods and electrical items and would be extremely grateful for any donations of these items.”

Currently, The Brick’s shop on Gidlow Lane can only accept two bags of donations per person, on Mondays and Thursdays between 9.30am and 1pm.

This is due to a lack of storage, as the charity’s storage facility is undergoing repairs which are set to last for several months.

Keely said: “We are struggling for storage space in Wigan and consequently we have had to limit the donations we can

accept.

“This is a temporary situation, while our storage facility is undergoing repairs, but it’s likely to last for a few

months.

“So, if there are any local businesses that may have storage space we could use for three months, we urge them to get in touch as we don’t want to have to continue to turn these much-needed donations away.

“We are also looking for volunteers to join our team, across a range of roles at both Gidlow Lane and Leigh Brick charity shops.”

To volunteer at The Brick or if you have storage space available, email [email protected] or call 01942 236953.

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