News & Events
SVP open first London Community Shop in Hackney
The first London Community Shop was officially opened in Hackney, London at the end of November and is now trading for business. The store, which is the 30th to be opened in England and Wales, was officially opened on Saturday 24th November with a Festival Meeting held at the shop by Westminster District Council. The aim of the shop, as with other SVP stores, is to tackle poverty through the use of retail space by providing free and affordable goods, counselling, employment and training opportunities to the local community.
Following the Festival Meeting, the shop was then officially opened to the public on 8th December. Despite the very wet weather, the shop was crowded for the start with people queuing to get in as the doors opened at 10am!
The objectives of the new shop are varied and the main aim is to establish a presence which works with and to benefit the local community. The store aims to satisfy need through the provision of free or affordable goods including furniture, electrical goods, furnishings, clothing, household items and toys and the plan is to provide goods of exceptional value and quality.
In addition to goods, the store will also be offering more personal assistance to those in the local community requiring help. The opportunity to receive counselling from trained professionals on matters such as debt is being made available as well as creating local employment and training opportunities. The SVP has achieved 'Investors in People accreditation in several previous project and it is hoped that we will also achieve it through our shops project. The shop will also help to raise the Society's profile in the local area and although the shop's principle function is not to raise funds but rather serve the local community, it is hoped that any funds raised by the shop will allow for an expansion in the scope of services offered by the SVP, both in Hackney and any future sites.
Siobhan Garibaldi, Westminster Central Council President said of the opening of the first London shop:
"We are delighted to be opening our first London shop in Hackney. Having had success on a national level with the concept, we are excited to replicate it in a new city , with new opportunities to make a tangible benefit to the community."
For further details on the Hackney shop, or if you are interested in volunteering, please contact Shop Manager Jacques Riacci on 020 7249 3511 or for further information on SVP Shops nationwide please contact Tony Nolan.
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