A CHARITY shop in Tavistock that has seen a sharp downturn in donations has issued an urgent appeal for a variety of goods to help fund its work in caring for people with life-changing illnesses.

The Sue Ryder charity shop in West Street opened a year ago and since then the amount of goods donated has fallen by more than 50 per cent.

Shop manager Mel Sealey believes the reduction is partly due to the economic situation leading people to use the internet to sell unwanted goods.

She said: 'There has been a dramatic drop in donations. We need to bring in 100 bin-bags of donated goods a week but it has fallen to about 30 bags a week.

'We get amazing people who donate goods again and again, but with us being a relatively new shop, some people are perhaps not fully aware that we are here.'

Mel said a wide range of items would be welcome, but not electrical goods: 'We would like men's women's or children's clothes, books, DVDs, CDs and general bric-a-brac such as ornaments etc.'

The charity's services include long-term, palliative, respite and end of life care for people living with progressive conditions such as cancer, multiple sclerosis, Huntingdon's disease, motor neurone disease, stroke and brain injury.

Mel said: 'By giving us what you no longer use, you're helping people get the specialist palliative and end of life care they need and helping their carers, friends and families too.

'More than 80% of the income our shops raise come from voluntary donations. People who donate are an essential part of our charity and we simply couldn't carry on doing our work without them.'

In a bid to encourage donations, the shop is also taking its appeal out to the community by offering cardboard 'donation stations' at a variety of places such as offices and church halls. These would be emptied regularly by Sue Ryder volunteers.

If you wish to make a donation, the shop is at 8 West Street, Tavistock, and is open Monday to Saturday from 9am to 5pm. If you would like to provide a site for a 'donation station', contact Mel on 01822 618386 or email mel.sealey@suerydercare.

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