Donations - and volunteers - are both needed at the shop Picture: Dorset Blind Association

Dorset Blind Association charity shop to officially open in Shaftesbury

Tait ap EllisJuly 8, 20250 Comment0

A NEW charity shop will soon officially open its doors in Shaftesbury.

The new Dorset Blind Association shop at 10 Bell Street is set to welcome customers this Friday (July 11) at 11am.

And it is set to be opened by Shaftesbury Mayor, councillor Virginia Edwyn-Jones and deputy mayor, cllr Greg Williams who will both cut the ribbon on the new shop.

The public are invited to come to the ribbon-cutting ceremony – and to be one of the first to grab a bargain.

The shop has been warmly welcomed since its soft launch in April, and shop manager Melissa is now appealing for volunteers to get involved.

“We’ve been so encouraged by the friendly welcome from customers in Shaftesbury,” she said.

“There’s a real community spirit here, and we’re proud to be part of it. We’re currently in real need of donations and always keen to welcome new volunteers!”

The shop on 10 Bell Street Picture: Dorset Blind Association

All money raised will go directly to supporting Dorset Blind Association’s vital services.

Community relations officer at Dorset Blind Association, Sam Baker, said the new shop in Shaftesbury is a “huge step forward” in helping them to continue their important work across North Dorset.

“Every bag of donated goods and every purchase helps us provide essential support to people living with serious sight loss across Dorset,” he said.

“Our shops are an important part of our service delivery, including a mini equipment and advice/resource centre making Dorset Blind Association even more accessible to the public.”

The shop will be open Monday to Saturday – from 9am to 4pm – and will feature a wide range of pre-loved items including clothing, books, homewares and accessories.

Donations of quality, saleable goods are very welcome and can be dropped off during opening hours.

Volunteers who could donate a few hours a week should come along to the shop to find out more.