Chester-le-Success!

Meet our Chester-le-Street Team

THIS ARTICLE IS FROM THE AUTUMN/winter 2021 EDITION OF OUR PETS & VETS MAGAZINE

Welcome to Chester-le-Street – a market town renowned for its history, castle, cricket or maybe not………Chester Front Street is a magnet for charity shop shoppers! So, what a perfect location for Stray Aid to open its fourth shop in October 2019.

The current “Chester Volunteer Dream Team” have been in situ since October 2020. After a massive “makeover” during the November lockdown the shop has been successfully trading at least three days per week. To obtain a flavour of what we do, I asked a few questions of the volunteers.

Q1. What’s your favourite thing about volunteering at the shop?

The team, customers & knowing that our efforts support the care of LOCAL dogs & cats.
The huge sense of achievement, working as a team to bring the shop “up to scratch” & seeing the financial rewards.

Q2. What’s the most exciting donation you’ve ever received?

Some valuable limited edition prints, a rabbit hutch in a buggy left in the shop doorway & multiple designer label clothes which kept tempting the same customer – to name a few!
Every donated item is of value & if the shop isn’t the right environment to sell, we go digital!

Q3. What are the greatest challenges?

The shop is small with limited space for storage & display for all our fabulous stock.It can be chilly in the winter!

Q4. What’s next for the shop?

To grow the volunteer base in order to open every day & paint the shop exterior red.

Q5. Why volunteer for Stray Aid above another charity?

Everyone is a volunteer with a diversity of skills, we have great craic & knowing that all monies go towards the care of LOCAL dogs & cats makes everything worthwhile.

So, as you can see, the Chester shop has grown from an “ugly duckling” into a “beautiful swan” through the amazing efforts of our small volunteer team. It’s been a turbulent year for us all where the shop has somehow provided a sense of purpose, satisfaction, pride and belonging.

So, if you or anyone you know could spare any time daily, weekly or monthly DO come and join us. Either pop into the shop or contact us via email – [email protected]

THIS ARTICLE IS FROM THE AUTUMN/winter 2021 EDITION OF OUR PETS & VETS MAGAZINE