Ulster Cancer Foundation Opens Charity ‘Super Shop’

The Mayor of North Down Borough Council, Councillor James McKerrow, joined the Ulster Cancer Foundation (UCF) in Bangor to officially open the second of the charity’s new look ‘super shops’. 

UCF’s charity shop is based at 2-4 Market Street, Bangor, where the Mayor donated some clothes and dropped in to pick up a bargain!

Hilary Scott, Retail Development Manager, UCF, said, “Our new-look charity shop in Bangor is the second to be refurbished in our major shop investment programme.  Another nine shops across Northern Ireland will also be given a complete overhaul within the next 6-9 months.”

UCF’s new look charity shop offers customers a much better shopping experience.  The layout has been improved, clothes and goods are easier to find and better displayed whilst the storeroom is now fully operational, enabling donations to be processed more quickly.

Hilary explained, “As a result of the improvements to the storeroom we will be adding more than 200 items of new stock to the shop floor every day so customers can be assured that they will always see something new every time they visit.

“We are very proud of the full range of high quality goods that we offer at a fraction of their previous prices.  We stock many quality high street brands providing customers with excellent value for money and there’s the added feel good factor of knowing that every purchase is helping someone else. 

“As well as clothing, we also sell accessories, homeware, books, CD’s/DVD’s and knick-knacks but we are always on the lookout for new stock.  We value each and every donation as we simply couldn’t exist without your generous contributions.  If you have any items in your home which you no longer need or have never used please donate them to UCF today.   Donations can be dropped off directly to the Bangor shop or if you are donating more than 8 black bags we can arrange collection of them, free of charge.

“We also welcome volunteers to help out at our Bangor shop. Our volunteer programme is designed to be as flexible as you require and even donating a few hours per week can make a real difference. You do not need any special skills as you will receive on-the-job training and support.”

Roisin Foster, Chief Executive, UCF added, “In the last 13 years our Bangor shop has raised almost £750,000 for the charity.  This is an amazing amount – and it’s all thanks to the local community who have provided stock and also became loyal customers.  This contribution to UCF’s work is absolutely vital and the shop has also raised awareness of our work in the community.

“We value your donations greatly as all of the money raised by the Bangor shop helps cancer patients and their families in the local community.  UCF isNorthern Ireland’s leading local cancer charity which provides a range of services, free of charge, to help people in Northern Ireland through their cancer diagnosis and long after their treatment has finished.”

“In addition to our care and support service we also invest in research at local universities and deliver cancer prevention programmes in workplaces, schools and community groups to help people reduce their risk of the disease.” 

The work at UCF’s Bangor Shop has been made possible through a special refurbishment fund. 

For further information on becoming a shop volunteer please contact Julie Hyde at theBangorshop on 91479550. If you wish to organise collection please contact Marlene Harrison at UCF on 9066 3281.