Mountbatten: Surge in post

MOUNTBATTEN SEES SURGE IN POST LOCKDOWN DONATIONS AND SALES

Have you been having a lockdown wardrobe clear out? If so, you may be among those across the Island who have generously donated to Mountbatten

The charity relies on high quality clothes and brica-brac to raise funds to support its work in providing end of life care for Island patients in their own homes, at the hospice and in the local hospital, as well as free bereavement support to anyone on the Island who needs it. Since Mountbatten’s warehouse reopened on 15 June, there has been a steady influx of donations which have to be held in quarantine for 72 hours before they can be sorted and sent out to restock the ten charity shops around the Island.

Customers are also proving to be very generous; by the end of the first day of trading for Mountbatten’s Newport shop on Lugley Street, shoppers had raised double the shop’s usual takings. In line with government guidelines, a number of changes have been introduced in the charity’s shops, including hand sanitiser points at the entrance, perspex screens and signs to support social distancing. Nigel Hartley, Mountbatten CEO, said: “‘We understand that our new guidelines for safety can be challenging to some customers, as well as for our staff and volunteers. We ask for patience and understanding as we all come to terms with working differently, which impacts on everyone. “We’ve really missed our customers and it feels wonderful to start welcoming shoppers back. Before the coronavirus outbreak, our shops would raise over £100,000 each month towards end of life care and bereavement support. Every penny is vital and it’s thanks once again to our Island community that we can continue to be there when Island patients and families need us most.”

For further information about what you can donate visit www.mountbatten.org.uk

Need to know

Donations of clothes and bric-a-brac can only be dropped off at Mountbatten’s warehouse on Riverway Industrial Estate, Newport, PO30 5UZ (almost opposite the Royal Mail depot)

The warehouse is open for donations 7 days a week, between 10am and 4pm (closed for an hour at midday and may need to close sooner if maximum donation capacity is reached)

Please don’t leave donations outside any of Mountbatten’s shops.

When does your local Mountbatten shop reopen?

Mountbatten Newport, Lugley Street - Open Mountbatten Cowes, High Street - 29 June 2020 Mountbatten Freshwater, Avenue Road - 6 July 2020 Mountbatten Ryde, High Street - 13 July 2020 Mountbatten East Cowes, Ferry Road - 20 July 2020 Mountbatten Shanklin, Regent Street & Mountbatten Ventnor, Pier Street - 27 July 2020 Mountbatten Bembridge Lane End Road & Mountbatten Wootton, High Street - 3 August 2020

Temporary volunteers needed!

Do you have some spare time between July and October? Mountbatten needs volunteers to help customers at their shop tills and to sort donations at their warehouse. Call Sally on (01983) 217368