Celebrating 17 years of our Flackwell Heath shop

Our Flackwell Heath shop turns 17!

We’re inviting you to celebrate the 17th Birthday of our Flackwell Heath shop with us! 

On 5 December, the shop is hosting an anniversary party, complete with a tombola, raffle, ‘Guess the weight of the cake’ competition and mince pies. 

Tickets (which cost £1) for the raffle will be on sale from the shop between Friday 5 December – Saturday 20 December and winners will be drawn and notified at the end of the day on Saturday 20. First prize is a Christmas hamper full of goodies to eat and drink and there are other prizes up for grabs too, including chocolate and toiletry gift sets.

The shop first opened on 5 December 2008, and one volunteer named Liz has been with the shop from the beginning, ever since she popped into the empty unit to see what was happening, and was recruited on the spot by the shop’s first manager, Diana. 

When Diana retired as shop manager a few years later, as luck would have it, Liz knew just the person for the job. Her friend Ann had retail experience and was looking for a new challenge, so she applied and was offered the job – Ann has been with the shop ever since, now over 13 years. 

Since then, they have seen two mergers as the organisation became Rennie Grove and then Rennie Grove Peace Hospice Care, as well as a move into a new, larger shop. They have also welcomed many more volunteers and staff members. 

Liz is a committed ambassador, when she was lucky enough to visit the Buckingham Palace Garden Party,  she dressed head to toe in items from the Flackwell Heath shop!