Charity has shut up shop
ACHARITY shop volunteer who has autism has credited a Runcorn charity shop with developing her social skills and confidence as it was announced the store was closing permanently.
Ellen LeBreton, 24, said The Children’s Society branch on Church Street has been part of the town centre for 30 years and has helped her and countless others as well as raising cash for an important cause.
Ellen said customers at a takeaway where she also works have been asking her when it’s due to open again.
She said she didn’t think the closure was because of the pandemic and had hoped the charity could be persuaded to keep it open.
But The Children’s Society has confirmed that “with great regret”, the store is “no longer financially viable” and the closure will be permanent.
Speaking before the closure was confirmed, Ellen said: “It’s been in Runcorn for 30 years.
“It’s one of the longest surviving shops – it’s helped so many people in Runcorn.
“I have lots of jobs, I work in a Chinese takeaway and volunteering in The Children’s Society – we get people saying when is it opening again?” She added: “It helps the community.
“I know people who go in each week and go to help.
“I have autism, I’ve been in the shop for nine years. If I hadn’t started, my social skills wouldn’t be where they are today.
“I would have struggled massively in the world.”
Tina Fellstrom, The Children’s Society’s retail operations manager for the North, said it was already becoming clear before the pandemic that renewing the lease was not viable.
She said: “It is with great regret that we’ve decided to permanently close our Runcorn shop.
“Unfortunately, and despite the amazing support of our regular customers, supporters, volunteers and staff, it has become clear the shop is no longer financially viable.
“This was becoming apparent even before the pandemic and with the lease on the premises coming to an end we’ve decided not to reopen.
“This decision was not taken lightly, but as a charity supporting and offering hope to some of the country’s most vulnerable children, we have a duty to make every penny count.
“We know this will be disappointing for our supporters and hard for those who have given their time to help us run the shop and who enjoyed doing so. We’d like to thank them from the bottom of our hearts.”