Affordable, stylish and sustainable: our new Plympton charity shop has opened its doors!

7th April 2025

Opening our new Plympton charity shop

With spring heralding new beginnings, what better time to open our newest charity shop? Featuring rails and shelves filled with carefully curated stock, our new Plympton shop welcomed its first customers last week, eager to see beyond the beautiful window display singing with the colours of the season.

Located just a step away from Iceland on the Ridgeway, the new store is full of affordable, sustainable, pre-loved treasures to profit hospice care for the local community. In this case, good-quality second-hand clothes and accessories artfully arranged by colour, plus items of homeware and bric-a-brac.

From the wonderful window displays to the inviting interior, the shop is testament to the vision of St Luke’s Deputy Head of Retail Kerry Hearn and Cluster Manager Dee Coath, who oversees seven of our hospice shops, including this latest addition. Together with Assistant Manager Zoe Norman and the volunteers who generously give their time and skills to make a difference, they have worked flat out to ensure the shop is the very best it can be for our charity and the community we serve.

There at the launch to cut the ribbon was St Luke’s nurse Alice, joined by fellow nurse Teresa, plus Clare and Emma from our Patient and Family Support Team.

Clare said: “When people think of St Luke’s, they tend to think of those of us in the frontline, giving compassionate care and support. But what my colleagues and I do for patients and families simply wouldn’t be possible without the talented Retail team who’ve always got our backs.

“They’re part of something very special in the community and for the community, generating profits to make sure local people continue receiving the specialist care they need at the end of their lives.”

Personal connections

In common with many who work and volunteer for St Luke’s, Assistant Manager Zoe is motivated by a desire to give back to our charity for the care a loved one received. Her father Arthur spent a week at Turnchapel before sadly, he died in 2022.

Zoe, who lives in Plympton, said: “When dad was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, there were still certain lockdown restrictions in place due to the pandemic, but I’m so grateful that as a family, we were able to spend time with him at Turnchapel.

“Thanks to such superb service from St Luke’s, we went from being really busy taking care of things for dad to being able to just ‘be’ and make the most of our precious last days with him.”

Keen bargain hunter Jenny has her own personal reason for supporting St Luke’s. She said: “Over the years, friends and neighbours have received great care from the hospice and I have seen the difference it has made not just to them but to their families too.

“Such skills and compassion must never be taken for granted, and that’s why I’m keen to support the charity in any way I can. The shops are always so welcoming, and I never leave empty-handed!”

Shop volunteer Lynne Chinnock highlights her experience of breast cancer as one of the reasons she wants to continue giving to St Luke’s. Having already notched up five years’ service with our charity, she is looking forward to many more. Lynne said: “I love being part of such an active team. There’s a real family feel and we all support one another.”

Leading and learning

Leading the team is something Cluster Manager Dee regards as a privilege. Drawing on many years of working in multi-site retail management, she brings with her not only a wealth of experience but infectious enthusiasm too.

That said, Dee is not one to take all the credit for herself. She said: “Getting the shop ready for opening day has been no mean feat, but every member of the team has been incredible, from sorting through donations to steam-cleaning clothes and filling up the rails. We’ve started as we intend to go on, pooling our talents and learning from each other.

“Our volunteers are the backbone of what we do, and I am very grateful to every one of them for their contribution and generosity of spirit. Together, we are proud to serve the Plympton community, bringing in funds that will do much to ensure St Luke’s continued care for families in the area.”

The new Plympton store is open seven days a week, so if you’re in the area do call in and say hello. Whether you’re dropping off donations or browsing for bargains, thank you for continuing to support our compassionate care in the community.

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