Mental Health Charity Mind Opens Shop In Chiswick

Raising funds and awareness for those who need help

(l-r) Paul Farmer Mind CEO of with Natalie Hayes shop manager and Andrew Vale, MD Mind Retail

The charity Mind, which helps people with mental health issues, has opened its first charity shop in Chiswick- its 156th shop in the UK.

The new shop is situated at 392 Chiswick High Road, formerly a Chinese health shop.

Donations and sales made at Chiswick’s new store will help support the one in four people who experience a mental health problem every year. Mind charity shops have been on the high street for over 50 years, embedded in the heart of local communities in England and Wales.

The shops not only raise important income for the charity but also spread awareness of its work, according to Mind’s chief executive Paul Farmer. People who might be reluctant to seek support can access information by coming into the shop, picking up a leaflet and finding out about their national information service.

The official ceremony of cutting the ribbon was performed by the Sunday Express editor Martin Townsend, who is a supporter of the charity and its work. In 2007, he published The Father I Had, an autobiographical account of his relationship with his father, who had bipolar disorder. This won the Mind Book of the Year Award 2008.

The shops are staffed by volunteers, and a large proportion of these voluteers have come through their own mental health difficulties. Mind have over 2,000 volunteers nationally. The stores will sell clothing, cards, and gift items and donations are welcome, either of financial aid (Gift Aid is available ) and the charity would also be delighted to have more volunteers for the shop.

You can follow their work on Twitter or on their website

August 17, 2017