Yorkshire charity Martin House Hospice Care for Children and Young People is celebrating after winning a national award for one of its shops.
Its Skipton store was named Charity Shop of the Year at the Charity Retail Association Awards in Nottingham, praised for its outstanding sales performance and strong community engagement.
Andrina Reynoldson, shop manager, said:
We’re absolutely delighted to win this award, and it’s all down to the dedication and passion of our team of amazing volunteers and staff.
I’d like to thank them all for everything they do to make this shop a success, we couldn’t achieve everything we do without them.
Andrina liaised with local businesses to increase stock donations and helped create new links for corporate fundraisers.
She and assistant manager Helen Wray are also part of a retail working group at Martin House, and they work closely with volunteer community ambassadors in the town to help raise the profile of the hospice.
Martin House cares for children and young people with life-limiting conditions – and their families – from across West, North and East Yorkshire. It includes respite stays, emergency care and end of life care, as well as bereavement support to families.
It has a chain of 12 charity shops and a furniture warehouse and showroom, which help raise money for the hospice. It will cost £8 million this year to provide its services.
Vicki Burnett, head of retail, said:
We are thrilled to have won this award, it’s a huge accolade for us, particularly as we were up against national charities.
Andrina, Helen and our other assistant manager Nicola Garbutt, have done a fabulous job, creating a real team spirit with our volunteers to create a vibrant shop with a strong sense of community, which has seen an increase in shop sales, which is so important in helping to fund Martin House’s work.
