Earlier this month, Isabel Hospice opened our 17th shop, ‘Always Loved by Isabel Hospice’ on Bishop’s Stortford’s South Street. The new shop operates alongside the already well-established Bridge Street branch which opened over 30 years ago.
The shop was officially opened by Mayor Richard Townsend, commending Isabel Hospice for its dedication to providing compassionate care to the community. Focused on affordable and sustainable fashion and homeware, the charity’s retail expansion marks another significant milestone in its mission to turn pre-loved items into nursing hours which aligns with our sustainability strategy, the Tonnes of Care initiative, launched in 2022.
Charlotte Greenwood, Head of Retail & Marketing at Isabel Hospice, commented on the launch, “We are thrilled to have opened the doors to our new shop and welcome the Bishop’s Stortford community. We are confident the stylish re-fit really raises the bar for the charity shopping experience and look forward to welcoming customers old and new.”
Isabel Hospice needs to raise £7 million each year to provide its vital services to the community. Only a quarter of funding is provided by the NHS which is why charity shops are so important to generate funds. Last year, the Bridge Street shop helped to fund 1,061 hours of compassionate care. This includes community services such as Hospice at Home which enables those faced with a life-limiting illness to spend their remaining days at home.
Charlotte added “After all the hard work from the Isabel Hospice retail team, it was great to see the shop really come to life and have it bustling with people making their pre-loved purchases. Our second shop in Bishop’s Stortford means our community will have twice as much choice of unique pre-loved items to browse and buy. Please do make sure to pop in and say hello, have a browse, donate your unwanted items or even volunteer!”
To keep shops fully stocked, Isabel Hospice needs the community’s support with donations. These can now be dropped off directly at both the Bridge Street and South Street shops (both open Mon-Sat 9am-5pm and South Street, Sunday 10am-4pm).
Alternatively, if you are interested in volunteering for Isabel Hospice, please email volunteer.office@isabelhospice.org.uk, or call 01707 382500, option 4.
