St Giles Hospice has announced plans for its large Burntwood shop to become the ‘hub’ of its successful retail operation – resulting in the closure of its Distribution Centre in Shenstone, Lichfield.
In contrast to Shenstone, the Burntwood shop is open 7 days a week and offers an easily accessible location, with ample parking – making it the perfect home for a small, centralised hub, supporting St Giles’ network of 21 charity shops.
Over the past two years, donors and shoppers have helped to raise more than £1 million to provide care and support for local people, and their families, living with a terminal illness.
Despite COVID-19 lockdown shop closures, the hospice’s retail operation has seen a hugely significant bounce-back period. However, St Giles must continue to adapt, post-pandemic, to ensure the financial stability of its 21 charity shops.
Minor works are due to start in June to turn the Burntwood shop into a hub. Accessibility and sustainability will be at the heart of its re-design, with the store offering a fantastic shopping experience, an easy drop-off point for donated goods and a convenient base for retail van drivers.
Alongside the Burntwood Hub, all other St Giles shops will also continue to accept donations, with some of the bigger stores – such as Mere Green, Ashby, Bloxwich and Lichfield – able to accept larger volumes. To find your nearest shop and opening hours, visit www.stgileshospice.com/shoplocator and please call ahead before making a special visit to drop off donations.
The Burntwood Hub will be open all year round, Monday to Sunday. Volunteers are currently being recruited to support the shop’s brand-new Sunday hours (10am – 4pm). To find out more, please visit www.stgileshospice.com/shopvolunteer
Frequently Asked Questions:
The past two years have seen a seismic shift in the retail landscape as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Whilst our retail operation has seen a hugely significant bounce-back period, we must continue to adapt, post-pandemic, to ensure the financial stability of our 21 charity shops.
We are unable to trade to the public at our Distribution Centre in Shenstone – and if trading were possible, the unit is too remote to provide a profitable trading space. As such, the considered decision has been made to close the Distribution Centre and turn the Burntwood shop into a hub.
In contrast to Shenstone, our Burntwood shop is open 7 days a week and offers an easily accessible location, with ample parking – making it the perfect home for a small, centralised hub, supporting our network of 21 charity shops.
The cost savings of no longer running a separate Distribution Centre at Shenstone are also significant, enabling our retail operation to maintain its primary purpose of offering strong financial support for St Giles Hospice’s vital care services.
We will be continuing to accept donated goods at our Distribution Centre in Shenstone up until, and including, Tuesday 31st May. After that date, donations will continue to be welcomed at all of our 21 charity shops. Stores near to Shenstone include Mere Green, Lichfield, Burton, Aldridge and not forgetting, our Burntwood Hub.
To find your nearest shop and opening hours, visit www.stgileshospice.com/shoplocator and please call ahead before making a special visit to drop off donations.
Staff: We have formally communicated with all staff affected by this change. Should you have specific questions or concerns, please speak to your direct line manager or contact the HR team at hr@stgileshospice.com
Under new plans, our retail van drivers will be based at our Burntwood Hub. The online team, currently based at Shenstone, will also move to our Mere Green shop in Sutton Coldfield. The first floor will be transformed into the heart of our online operation, relocating our Bridal Boutique goods to several shops across our retail estate.
Volunteers: Our volunteers are vital to the running of our retail operation. We have formally communicated with all volunteers affected by this change, offering alternative opportunities to join our charity shops. Any volunteers with further questions or concerns should contact their line manager or the retail team at RetailShopSupport@stgileshospice.com
Our Burntwood Hub is now open on Sundays, which means we also have additional opportunities for new volunteers to join the team. To find out more, please visit
www.stgileshospice.com/shopvolunteer
Donors and shoppers: These plans have been considered carefully, to cause little disruption to our donors and shoppers. After Tuesday 31st May, donations will continue to be welcomed at all of our 21 charity shops. Stores near to Shenstone include Mere Green, Lichfield, Burton, Aldridge and not forgetting, our Burntwood Hub. Additionally, all works due to take place at our Burntwood shop are minor and should be complete within 2-3 weeks.
St Giles Hospice is a well-known and respected local charity with strong financial oversight and governance.
Despite COVID-19 lockdown shop closures, our retail operation has seen a hugely significant bounce-back period. Having adapted and acted quickly to reduce costs, our charity shops remain financially stable. However, the ongoing support of our donors and shoppers is critical, as our shops help to fund the charity’s care and support for local people, and their families, living with a terminal illness.