A HOSPICE is set to reopen five of its charity shops to ensure vital funding keeps coming in.

St Helena Hospice, which has stores in Colchester and Tendring, will reopen some shops with reduced hours and only if they have sufficient space for people to shop at a safe distance from others.

The charity will reopen its Books, Brew and Boutique shop and its furniture store, both in Peartree Road, Colchester, alongside clearance shops in Magdalen Street, Colchester, Kingsway Hall, Dovercourt, and North Road, Great Clacton.

Ian Daniels, the hospice’s head of retail, said: “We are delighted to be able to reopen a select few of our shops.

“We want to assure our shoppers that we have taken every step to ensure their safety, as well the safety of our staff and volunteers. We hope this helps to ease their fears so they can enjoy the retail therapy experience like they used to, and hopefully take their mind off the pandemic, even if just for five minutes whilst they browse.

“We have followed the Government’s guidelines and our shop layouts have all been rearranged to allow us to easily implement social distancing and to provide measures that many will be used to from visiting supermarkets.”

The hospice’s shops generate about £1million per year for the charity. This cash it used to provide care and support to people facing incurable illness and bereavement.

Mr Daniels said: “Our 18 shops usually raise around £60,000 a week combined, so we’ve lost a significant amount of vital income since they have been shut.”

The hospice’s house clearance service will also begin operating again from today. Call 01206 890 165 for more information.