A ‘Grand Day’ for Queen Elizabeth's Foundation at Chessington

On Tuesday 8th June Chessington woke up to a new neighbour on North Parade with the re-appearance of the Queen Elizabeth’s Foundation charity shop.

Many local shoppers and supporters of the Foundation turned out in force to see Councillor Vicki Harris formally reopen the shop following several months of refurbishment. Councillor Harris emphasised how much Local Governments “…rely very heavily on the voluntary sector.”

She added, “People appreciate they are getting a bargain and the shop is a good focal point for the community.” One local shopper eagerly added that the Chessington community had “waited for this a very long time.”

Colin Day, from Queen Elizabeth’s Foundation notes: “Our shops help support our work at the Queen Elizabeth's Foundation which assists severely disabled young people, giving them the skills they require to realise their full potential. Through a variety of specialised programmes, the Foundation challenges a wide range of disabilities varying from physical disability to acquired brain injury and provides opportunities for education, mobility, work and independent living.

“Already the shop has received widespread goodwill from the people of Chessington, whose support will benefit many who have suffered disability.”

“We would like to thank Chessington for their warm response to Queen Elizabeth’s Foundation new shop and to take this opportunity to appeal for volunteers to help us with our work at the shop. We have had a terrific demand for second-hand furniture in particular, so should anyone like to donate goods, please contact us at the Foundation on 01372 843616 and we will be happy to collect items of furniture, good quality clothes, books and CDs and saleable goods for the shop”.