A COUNTY charity will re-open three of it's Worcestershire shops next week as plans to re-open fully move closer.

St Richard's Hospice will be re-opening its shops in Worcester (St Swithin's Street) Malvern Link and Malvern Link book shop, welcoming socially distanced customers on Monday, June 15.

The charity shops will not, however, be accepting donations until later in the month when designated shops in Pershore, Evesham and Malvern Link, as well as the warehouse at Leigh Sinton will be open at set times.

To meet infection control guidelines, donors will be asked to place items directly into a container or hospice van where they can remain for 72 hours before handling.

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Shops director Dan Corns said: "We are delighted to be re-opening the first of our shops shortly and to welcome back our customers and donors.

"We will be following the government’s COVID-19 secure guidelines to make sure that customers, staff and volunteers feel safe while they shop and work.”

"We really appreciate the fact that many supporters will have taken the opportunity during lockdown to clear out their wardrobes and homes and will have put aside items ready to donate when they can.

"But the fact that items must be isolated for 72 hours before they can be sorted by staff and volunteers, plus the potential that many of our volunteers may not be available to process them means we will not be accepting donations straight away."

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Mr Corns urged donors to check the condition of their donations, saying that in 2019/20, more than 620,000 items of clothing and shoes were donated to the hospice’s charity shops in an "unsaleable" condition such as being ripped or heavily stained.

He added: "We’re asking people to be thoughtful with the goods they donate, and ask themselves ‘would I buy this?’ to ensure we don’t end up having to pay to dispose of unsaleable items.

"This will help maximise the amount of money the shops give to support St Richard's Hospice care each year."

For more information about St Richard’s Hospice, go to: www.strichards.org.uk