I thoroughly enjoy visiting charity shops as I am constantly excited by what treasures I might find.
One of my favourite places to browse is St. Christopher’s Hospice Shop in Bromley.
St. Christopher’s is well placed for shoppers as it’s situated in a really good location on the main high street, close to The Glades.
The shop itself is well- organised with clear areas for men and women’s clothing, books, children’s toys and an assortment of bric a brac and homeware.
For me, it’s a really interesting shopping experience, but there’s so much more to it than that.
Like all charity shops, it’s raising money for a good cause but what exactly happens to the money they raise?
I decided to find out.
First, I visited the shop’s very informative website, and I learned that St. Christopher’s Hospice was founded in 1967 by a nurse called Cicely Saunders who was a pioneer of a “holistic” approach to end-of-life care which dealt not just with the physical needs of the patient, but also their mental wellbeing.
She also realised the impact the death has on the dying person’s family and developed bereavement services to provide support for their loved ones.
In fact, her approach became the model on which all hospices are still run.
She truly was a remarkable and compassionate woman, and I was pleased to see that in 1979 she was made Dame of the British Empire in recognition of her selfless service to others.
Having a clearer idea of the purpose of the charity, I then returned to the shop where the staff were really friendly, and I was lucky enough to be allowed an interview with a young volunteer named Tom.
He was extremely helpful and explained how important end of life care is and how St. Christopher’s provides support at every stage.
People told him how grateful they were for the help their families had received and he himself had had personal experience of the services available.
He was pleased to tell me that business was going well and there were plenty of shoppers every day, although Saturday is always the busiest.
Women’s clothes are the biggest sellers, but most things sell, and the turnover is quick, so they are always grateful for donations.
Next time I buy something at St. Christopher’s it will be good to know that I am supporting a cause which is helping to improve the life of terminally ill patients with respite or palliative care and supporting their families through this very difficult period.
If you would like to know more or to find out how you and your family could receive help, please visit the website or speak to a volunteer in store.
80 High Street Bromley BR1 1EY
