Street Angels Barrow to benefit from new charity shop

Source (with video and pictures)

A new charity shop has opened in Barrow promising to pump its profits into community projects.

Re:new, on Cavendish Street, says that unlike many of the other charity shops in the town, it puts the money it makes back into the local area.

It is run by manager Tim Jeffries and has been set up by Rev Sophie Carnaby, a police chaplain and community worker for the South West Cumbria Area Methodist and United Reformed churches.

She says the charity shop is a good way for people to get rid of unwanted items and give money to local projects. “We want to serve the town and we feel this is a good way to do that.

“Money made could make a significant difference to projects benefiting the community already that we would like to keep going. With budget cuts we are aware that projects have lost funding and we want to help out.

“A small amount of money could help to make a big difference,” she says.

One of the initiatives marked for a grant is Barrow’s Street Angels. Also set up by Sophie, they are a group of volunteers who help people keep safe and get home on a Saturday night.

A group will decide whether to give grants for other projects who wish to apply.

The shop is keen to help unemployed people back into work by giving them customer service and till skills.

Sophie, of Hindpool, moved to Barrow from Cardiff to take up her role as community worker.

“My job is to start projects that benefit the community. I find out what the needs of the town and do what I can to meet them. On moving to Barrow, she said: “It’s where God wanted to be. This is my town.”