Dogs Trust is reopening six of its charity shops across the UK, including its Stratford Upon Avon shop. 
With Government measures easing and more high street shops opening, the charity is excited to open a small number of its stores, whilst following the latest guidelines to keep staff and supporters safe.
Staff at the charity shop can’t wait to start receiving pre-loved goods from their supporters again, although visitors are being asked to familiarise themselves with new safety measures that will be in place.
Each charity shop will operate under reduced trading hours and will have dedicated time slots for when pre-loved goods can be received. This is to make sure that all pre-loved goods can be quarantined for 72 hours before being resold to reduce any risk of infection. Our shop teams are also asking that where possible, card or contactless payment, is used when making purchases.
In the last couple of weeks, staff have been preparing shops by adjusting their layout to meet social distancing requirements, installing more hand sanitizing units and fitting ‘cough guards’ at till points. Staff have also been provided with gloves, face masks and aprons which they are being asked to wear throughout the day.
For the moment the charity shop teams won’t be able to collect pre-loved goods from supporters’ homes as they are operating with reduced staff; and temporarily there are some limitations on the size and type of pre-loved goods they take; currently they are unable to take larger items such as furniture as well as books, soft toys and children’s games.
Diane Walden, Shop Manager at Dogs Trust’s charity shop in Stratford Upon Avon, said: “We are really excited to welcome our supporters back – albeit from a safe distance! It is great to be able to get our shops back up and running again, after so many of our fundraising activities have been impacted by the recent crisis. Now more than ever we will be relying on the generosity of the dog-loving public to help us through these uncertain times, as demand for our frontline services looks only set to increase in the coming months.
“Our supporters are vital to the continued work of Dogs Trust and we are so grateful to them for everything they do for us. In order to maintain social distancing, for the moment we have had to reduce the number of supporters allowed in the shop at one time, limit our workforce to essential staff, and ask that supporters refrain from bringing their canine friends with them when visiting for the time being. If you are in any doubt, then please do get in touch with us or visit our website for more information.”
For more information on our charity shops and our new working measures, please visit: www.dogstrust.org.uk/shopping/charityshops
