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Shop gives double benefits to charity

8/ 2/2007

SCOPE believes disability should be no barrier to employment and supports volunteers into work within its charity shops.

The Rochdale branch of Scope, which was awarded best area volunteer team of the year in the northwest, has 15 volunteers at any one time.

As well as raising much-needed funds to support cerebral palsy sufferers, the shop also benefits local disadvantaged people by offering a supportive working environment and strong sense of community. It helps organise placements for volunteers alongside Rathbone, a charity to support people into work, and High Birch Adlington Unit, a special needs school in Rochdale.

Shop manager, Alisa O'Connor, said: "The volunteers work really hard but they enjoy it and really enjoy the company.

"One of our lads used to suffer a lack of confidence before and couldn't use the till. I worry I have given him too much responsibility but he always gets on with it and his confidence has really grown.

"When new volunteers start it is important to spend time getting to know what they are comfortable with and get someone to mentor them."

And the work is a challenge for the volunteers.

Alisa said: "The staff put out 250 items a day and everything is on different codes so they have to use their brains and are constantly challenged."

Money raised at the Scope shop goes towards Scope's residential homes and schools, local activities and national campaigns to promote equality for cerebral palsy sufferers.