**Update** – We have received a thoughtful, anonymous donation from a supporter to cover the costs of repairing the shop window. A huge thank you from all at St Richard’s.
Vandals smashed a hospice shop window in Droitwich, leaving the charity facing an £800 repair bill.
The manager of the St Richard’s Hospice charity shop in Gurneys Lane, Droitwich, spotted the smashed front window when she arrived for work on Saturday morning. (17th October)
St Richard’s Commercial Director Dan Corns said, “We’re shocked and saddened that vandals have targeted our shop and have landed us a bill when we are doing our best to raise funds to care for local people when they need us most.”
“But we won’t be stopped; we made the window secure and will have it replaced in no time. The shop will be open as usual and welcoming our customers and donors with a smile.”
The incident happened just as St Richard’s backed the national Charity Retail Association’s (CRA) #ShopSafeShopKind campaign.
The CRA launched the campaign last Friday (16th October) following reports that charity shop staff and volunteers are experiencing abuse from customers when asked to comply with the latest COVID-19 safety rules.
The #ShopSafeShopKind campaign encourages shoppers to wear a face covering in store to protect others (unless exempt) and urges them to be kind and mindful about their behaviour towards staff, volunteers and other customers.
CRA Chief Exec, Robin Osterley, said: “we saw huge amounts of kindness and camaraderie from the public during lockdown, and as shops reopened, and we want to bring back this sense of togetherness. It is a source of sadness to us as sector that charity shop workers are being subject to abuse, especially as the majority are giving their time and skills on a voluntary basis.”
“We would like to see everyone working together as a team to make it through this difficult and uncertain time, and to make charity shopping a fun and enjoyable experience for everyone.”
Mr Corns welcomed the national campaign and hopes it will highlight the issues with the general public.
He said, “The majority of our customers and donors are totally supportive but we do have some people who can be thoughtless and abusive towards our staff or volunteers. We even hand our hand sanitiser stolen from one of our shops last week.”
He added, “We understand it’s tough times for most people at the moment but we hope to spread some understanding on how important it is to be thoughtful and kind when you are out shopping, to make everyone’s lives that bit easier.”
St Richard’s Hospice cares for adults with a serious progressive illness, improving their quality of life from diagnosis, during treatment and to their last days. It also supports their loved ones.
Each year the hospice team supports more than 3,300 patients, family members and bereaved people in Worcestershire.
St Richard’s is an independent charity and relies on donations and gifts in Wills for the majority of its income with 20% funded by the NHS.