The town which is celebrating its charity shops

Charity shops - derided by some as a symbol of a high street's decline - are being celebrated for their contribution to Worcestershire's economy.

Pershore's Charity Shop Trail has been launched to guide people around the town's charity shops, encourage sustainable shopping and attract more visitors.

"Charity shops play a big role in the life of the town, and this trail helps residents and visitors discover just how much variety and quality they offer," said Charlie MacIntyre, town clerk at Pershore Town Council.

With a population of 8,500, Pershore is served by six charity shops.

St Richard's Hospice, Acorn's Children's Hospice, Oxfam, the animal charity Blue Cross and the brain injury charity Headway all run shops on the town's high street, while the local community arts centre Number 8 has a shop nearby.

People can pick up a printed copy of the trail from the town's visitor information centre or any of the shops themselves.

Craig Powell, manager of the Acorns shop, said he felt charity shops were definitely good for the local economy.

"A lot of local customers look after us through the week," he explained. "And we have Pershore Abbey here, so we get a lot of tourists.

"We have a lot of Americans and Australians who have come to visit.

"Yesterday, we sold a Burberry coat first thing in the morning for £110, and the next lady bought a set of knitting needles for a quid.

"Everything you could think of, you'll find it here."

The Pershore branch raised £236,000 for Acorns last year, more than any of the charity's 49 shops across the West Midlands.

"This is the first ever paid job that I've had where I know that I'm doing something really great, and that makes it so special and rewarding," said Powell.

He hopes the trail will bring even more business his way - and to the town's other charity shops.

"I don't see us as rivals," he explained. "All the managers know each other, we all get on, and we just want more and more people to come to the town."

Sally Gregory, who runs the Oxfam shop, agreed.

"People are always saying to us: 'Where are the other charity shops in Pershore'?" she said.

"So now we can just give them a leaflet."

She added that the rising cost of living made charity shopping an attractive prospect for many people.

"People's shopping habits are changing - it's become fashionable to shop in charity shops. And it's fun," she said.

The project is run by Wychavon District Council, working with the town council and Visit Pershore, the town's tourism board.

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