The shop is located at 54 St Christopher Road, Colchester, CO4 0NB, and stocks clothes, shoes, accessories and general items kindly donated by the community in support of St Helena Hospice.

A small crowd gathered outside as Di Turner, hospice in the home community clinical nurse specialist, cut the ribbon to officially the charity shop. Di said:

“It's great that St Helena has opened a shop in the St John's area, right in the heart of the community among local shops, schools and the amenities where people are walking by every day. 

“I work as one of the clinical nurse specialists supporting people in their own homes in this area, and the new shop will give such a boost for everyone. Hopefully people who don’t know about the work we do to help local people face incurable illness and bereavement, will begin to understand a little more of what we do in the fact we're not just about end of life care, but about supporting people and their families right the way through.”

Caitlin Griggs is the assistant manager of the new St Christopher Road shop and she knows first hand the importance of raising money, as her mum, Tracey, died at the Hospice last year age 55. Caitlin said:

“It's really important that we now have a shop in the St John's community closer to the Hospice, a bit closer to home for some people. 

“The volunteers have worked so hard getting everything ready so it's really exciting to get it open and to show everyone what we've done.

“My family and I have had valuable St Helena support and I'm excited to give back because I do know what they do and how amazing they are.”

The new shop will be open Monday to Saturday 9am to 5pm, and 10am to 4pm on Sundays.

To find out about volunteering in one of the St Helena Hospice shops email volunteer@sthelena.org.uk or call 01206 931 466 for details, or visit www.sthelena.org.uk/volunteer to apply online.