Forget Me Not's new Royton charity shop set for official opening

Forget Me Not Children’s Hospice is launching a new charity shop in Royton

Forget Me Not Children’s Hospice is hosting a day of fun and activities on Saturday, March 31, to officially launch its new charity shop in Royton.

The new retail unit is located at the old central garage petrol station on Oldham Road, which now stands out after staff and volunteers painted it in the charity’s signature purple colour. 

To celebrate the opening of the charity shop there will be Easter egg giveaways, Easter-themed arts and crafts, raffle, competitions and a pop up tea shop selling hot and soft drinks, cakes and snacks.

The official ribbon cutting will take place at 10am.

The shop is already full of great furniture, bric-a-brac, clothing, accessories and entertainment – and there are plenty of bargains to be had.

The first 20 paying customers will receive a special goody bag and the charity is also offering free deliveries on all furniture orders placed on the day.

If people are planning to spring clean over the bank holiday and have quality items, such as clothes, books, toys, household items and furniture they no longer need or want they can drop the items off at the new charity shop.

Gareth Pierce, Forget Me Not’s head of trading, said: “We’ve been working hard to get the shop ready in time for the official opening this Easter bank holiday weekend.

"Residents and other local businesses should look out for our staff and volunteers on Saturday as we’ll be out and about in the town centre giving out purple balloons and telling people about our new store.

“As well as popping by the shop to see what we’ve done with the space and to help us celebrate the official opening, we’re keen for as many people as possible to drop off donations.

"We’re aiming to collect 1000 bags of unwanted goods during April and as it’s the bank holiday weekend, it’s the perfect time to declutter and donate some of your unwanted bits and pieces to a very worthy cause.”

All the profits from the charity shop will go to Forget Me Not, which took over Grace’s Place in Radcliffe, Bury in summer 2017.

After reaching its first fundraising target of £60,000 before Christmas, the charity is already caring for some of the 650 children with life-shortening conditions and their families in Bury, Rochdale and Oldham through its Hospice at Home service. 

Forget Me Not plans to open the children’s hospice on Dumers Lane for in-house and overnight care in October 2018.