After more than three months of being closed for business, YMCA Crewe (24th June) and YMCA Congleton (26th June) will be throwing open their doors and welcoming back much-loved customers, donors and staff next week.
YMCA Crewe and YMCA Congleton are two of 15 stores due to reopen next week as part of YMCA England & Wales' first phase, which aims to restore more than 40 shops to their local communities by the end of the month.
Across all of its reopened stores, YMCA will be adhering to government guidelines with additional cleaning and social distancing measures, alongside hand gel stations at each entrance to ensure a safe environment for customers and colleagues.
Once doors are officially open donations to YMCA Crewe and YMCA Congleton are very welcome, and if donors have any questions or concerns before dropping items off, please feel free to call ahead.
One challenge that the current crisis has created is that YMCA has fewer volunteers than before, so alongside donations, staff are also appealing for volunteers to help them get back up and running. Without the dedication of hundreds of volunteers YMCA shops wouldn't be possible, and so both YMCA Crewe and YMCA Congleton are calling on anyone locally who may be able to help to please get in touch.
Simon Green, Head of Retail at YMCA England & Wales said:
"The retail team have been working extremely hard to reopen stores in a way which keeps customers, staff and the community safe, and we can't wait to welcome everyone back for the first time since 23 March.
"It truly is a privilege to serve at the heart of communities, providing not only the chance for customers to find bargains and recycle goods, but also to gain employment experience and create new friendships. We have missed you and we are delighted to be back."
Money raised at YMCA charity shops across England and Wales is used to help transform the lives of young people across almost 700 local communities. From providing a warm bed for homeless young people to delivering mental health advice and counselling for those in need. Every donation or hour volunteered makes a huge difference.
To find your local YMCA shop, enquire about donations or find out about volunteering opportunities, please visit: https://www.ymca.org.uk/shops or call 0207 186 9585.