The Grafton Shopping Centre staff get creative to raise money for charity

Two local charities are set to benefit after staff at The Grafton Shopping Centre raised an impressive £2,000 through quite inventive means.

Two local charities are set to benefit after staff at The Grafton Shopping Centre raised an impressive £2,000 through quite inventive means.

Following on from the first phase of the redevelopment of the centre, a whole host of items had accumulated in storage, and resourceful staff from the centre decided that rather than sending the items to the skip - they’d sell them, with all of the money raised going to East Anglia Children’s Hospice (EACH) and Jimmy’s Cambridge, a charity that offers emergency shelter for the homeless, 365 days a year.

The Grafton Centre Manager, Russell Hall, said he was delighted that the centre could support two worthwhile causes. “We really believe in being able to help charities and groups across our community in Cambridge,” said Russell.

“We noticed that we’d accumulated a number of items such as shelving, mannequins, kitchen equipment and a whole host more. Most of which could be used by small businesses or any other enterprising individual or groups”

“With so much of it in good condition we thought rather than it going to waste, we’d put it up for sale and any money raised from the proceeds would go to our two charitable partners – EACH and Jimmy’s Cambridge.”

EACH offers family-centred, needs-led approach to care and supports children with life-threatening conditions across Cambridgeshire, Essex, Norfolk and Suffolk with care tailored to the needs of family members. Jimmy’s Cambridge provides emergency shelter, 365 days a year for those who would otherwise be homeless or vulnerably housed with the aim of helping them move on to stable accommodation.

“I’m delighted that we’ve been able to raise money for two very important causes that help those that need it the most in the Cambridge community,” said Russell. “I’d also like to say a huge ‘thank you’ to Hannah Skerrett, Administration Manager here at the centre who spearheaded all of this activity and was the real driving force behind it.”