Royal visit to celebrate Wandsworth Town charity shop’s 10-year milestone

Her Royal Highness went to Mary’s Living and Giving shop in Old York Road to thank volunteers and staff for their ongoing work to raise money for Save the Children, the charity of which she is Patron. She met the charity’s regional Retail Manager, Cheryl Adams and Deputy Lord Lieutenant of Wandsworth, Coleen Harris.

Shop manager Eugene Cooper said “It was such an honour to meet The Princess Royal today.  The volunteers here couldn’t be more thrilled that Her Royal Highness chose our Wandsworth shop to visit, and to be given the opportunity to show off our stock and discuss our impact for children around the world. Her visit recognises the hard work of all the shop volunteers and those in the community who have supported our shop over the past ten years.”

The Wandsworth shop is run by 44 volunteers. Over the past decade it has raised more than £1.2 million through sales for the charity’s work in the UK and around the world.

Save the Children aims to help every child get the chance of a future they deserve. In more than 100 countries, including the UK, the charity works to ensure children stay safe, healthy and learning – finding new ways to reach children who need it most. 100 per cent of the profits from charity shops go directly to fund this work.

Mayor of Wandsworth Juliana Annan joined the Princess Royal at the store on Thursday (February 22). She said: “It was an honour to meet the Princess Royal, tour the shop and meet the dedicated people that work there.

“This shop and others like it in our borough do so much to help local and national charities, so please do give them your support, give items a second life and pick up a bargain.”