New Telford store turns unwanted goods into support

The Telford Community Shop, which is run by the Shropshire Community Project, reopened in the town in December.

A host of affordable items are on sale to members of the community, from new and used furniture, to designer clothes. There is also a supermarket on site. All surplus profits made in-store and online go towards helping vulnerable people.

The social enterprise store also supports people low on confidence by helping them secure permanent long-term employment.

Matt Weaver, founder and CEO of Shropshire Community Project, said: “We are thrilled to be back in Telford. So many people have emailed and messaged us on social media saying they’ve missed the store and asking us to return.

“When we heard that the old Iceland building had become available we jumped at the chance to take it on.

“We have big plans for the store in Telford and are hoping to continue what we achieved – selling quality new and used furniture and fashion, with all surplus profits going towards local charity projects and supporting people in crisis across the region.

“We will run our employability and people development programmes from the store and would encourage people to pop in and ask us for details about this.

“We have also launched our social supermarket from the store, with good quality, in-date stock donated from larger retailers that would otherwise have gone to landfill. Thanks to their support, the social supermarket is open to the entire community to enable local people the opportunity to save money on every day essentials, whilst supporting those in need.”

After spending three years on the Forge Retail Park, the store is now based at Telford Shopping Centre.

Hundreds of bath bombs and soaps have already been donated by cosmetics retailer Lush, which closed down in Telford Shopping Centre on Sunday. For further information about the store on donating or to find out how the project can support people go to shropshirecommunityproject.org.uk or call 01952 293849.