WESTON Hospicecare will open its new flagship superstore and donation centre to the public on Friday, February 18.
The grand opening will take place at 10am at the new superstore, which is located in Searle Crescent (opposite Waitrose and Howards Toyota) in Weston-super-Mare.
The charity is opening the new centre to help it generate funds to care for people with life-limiting conditions in Weston-super-Mare, North Somerset, and Sedgemoor.
It currently coordinates its retail operation from a depot in Lynx Crescent near Hutton, but the site has no function to trade.
The new larger site will allow the charity, founded in 1989, to trade and accept donations simultaneously from one self-sufficient site.
In January, the hospice revealed an artist's impression of what the new centre will look like.
Weston Hospicecare chief executive Paul Winspear said: "Weston Hospicecare is delighted to announce the grand opening of our new superstore, donation centre and community hub at 10 Searle Crescent in Weston-super-Mare.
"As a registered charity with just 20 per cent of our total funding coming from the NHS, the hospice is highly dependent on our shops and fundraising activities to generate the other 80 per cent of our income needed to provide best possible end of life care to our patients, and to support their families and loved ones, throughout our area of North Somerset and Sedgemoor.
"The new location will not only provide a convenient drop-off point for our supporters to leave donations and an attractive shop to browse, but it will serve as the logistics base for our other 16 shops located in Weston town centre and in other outlying towns and villages."
Weston Hospicecare's new centre will have a drive-through donation centre, parking, and a community outreach room for supporters to learn about the hospice's crucial work while they shop and donate their goods.
Initially, the new superstore and donation centre will only be accepting furniture stock donations, with supporters asked to continue donating other items to the hospice's other charity shops.
Alongside its four stores in Weston-super-Mare, the charity runs two in Burnham-on-Sea and one in Cheddar.
Paul added: "Our shops and donation centres are woven into our community as places of employment, opportunities for volunteering, recycling of your preloved items, and a great place to pick up a bargain!
"The new hospice superstore and donation centre demonstrates our commitment to sustaining and growing the retail income we need to serve our community, and we are excited about the opportunities the new superstore will provide."
SAVE THE DATE! Weston Hospicecare's Superstore and Donation Centre set to open!
— Weston Hospicecare (@WHCHospice) February 2, 2022
18 February, 10am, 10 Searle Crescent. Parking available on first come, first serve. Furniture donations only! https://t.co/d8StUCUJsc
Weston Hospicecare's new centre will be open seven days a week.
Its Monday to Saturday opening hours will be 9am to 6pm, and it will trade between 10:30am and 4:30pm on Sundays.
The charity is looking for volunteers to help fill 100 shifts at the new site.
To find our more or to register your interest in volunteering, visit www.westonhospicecare.org.uk.
Read more: Artist's impression shows Weston Hospicecare's soon-to-open superstore
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