Northfield charity shop which helps disabled people broken into FOUR times - how you can help

Anne and Christine were delighted to re-open their beloved charity shop in Northfield after months of lockdown.

As soon as Boris Johnson announced that restrictions would be eased on April 12 the volunteers set about making plans to get back to business, working on their true passion - helping disabled people across Birmingham to live the most fulfilled lives that they can.

A key aim of the charity Scope is to create a fairer society - and the Northfield branch is like one big family.

Unfortunately crooks didn’t care about the dedication and hard work of the charity, or the needs of the people they help, when they decided to break into the shop on the Bristol Road - not once, but FOUR times between April 26 and July 11.

Instead of helping to raise money for those who need it, Scope was forced to shut once more and had to pay to replace locks and get new shutters.

Manager Rosie Hall said: “We had a couple of days when we couldn’t trade. And then there’s a massive cost to any break in. In terms of locks changing. We’ve had a new shutter fitted.

“Everyone’s really rallied round in the community and helped us. We weren’t the only shop to be targeted.”

Christine said: “Due to my mum passing away, the shop was a lifeline to me at the time, it really helps with mental health as well. I just enjoy working here.

Anne said: “We talk about anything, we listen as well, we’re there for everybody.”

Scope launches a new campaign to help disabled people and you can help

Rosie and the team are determined to carry on their good work and not let the burglaries stop them. They have launched a great new campaign, along with Scope stores across the country, to help bring in more money which they can use to help people who need it. It’s a great way to recycle unwanted items that you don’t want too.

Rosie said: “Our new campaign is called share the scope. We’re asking people to donate their unwanted items.

“They mean so much to us. Each donation we get averages £20 when we sell it on, so it’s a big deal for us.”

New polling from Scope charity shops reveals that on average adults from Birmingham has 25 unworn items of clothing and footwear in their wardrobe. That’s potentially 1.5 billion items taking up valuable space throughout the UK.

The charity’s research has found out what the number one unwanted item is in Birmingham too - it’s tops!

On average each of us has six tops that we don’t want in our wardrobes.

The next highest is footwear - with 30 per cent of us having five pairs we don’t use.

The national figures suggest women hoard more footwear, having slightly more items than men.

How the Northfield community rallied round to help Scope

Disappointment at the mean thefts has been lessened due to the fantastic support from the local community.

Darren Curtis who runs Daz Tattoos in nearby Northfield Market arranged a quick ‘whip-round’ following the second break-in. He organised a collection raising £113.

Darren, who is one of the store’s most beloved regulars, was horrified at the crime.

Darren said: “I was disgusted. I come over here at least once or twice a day to see if there’s any bargains. I knew I had to do something to help.”

Cynthia and Gary, from Bromsgrove, are regular customers too. Cynthia sums up the appeal of the busy Northfield branch, saying that she ‘loves a bargain, the staff are friendly and you are helping a good cause’.

• So if you can help, pop into Scope in Northfield with your unwanted items and #sharethescope - you can check out how the campaign is going by following the hashtag on social media too

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