WEST Essex and East Herts charity, St Clare Hospice, is appealing for donations of vintage and retro items to support the running of its new shop in Harlow’s town centre, Scarlet Vintage & Retro.

The newest addition to Harlow’s Broad Walk specialises in women’s and men’s clothing, accessories, homeware, collectables and memorabilia from the 90s and earlier.

The shop relies solely on donations and the generosity of hospice supporters and donors, and as such is appealing for local people to donate their vintage and retro goods to St Clare’s.

People are urged to donate any vintage, retro, or kitsch items to the new charity shop

Donations are welcome to be dropped off at Scarlet Vintage & Retro, located at 3 Broad Walk in Harlow’s town centre.

Alternatively, donors can drop items off at the main Hospice Reception in Hastingwood, or to any of the charity’s eight other shops throughout its catchment area providing they are clearly labelled ‘Scarlet Vintage & Retro’.

St Clare Hospice is a charity providing specialist palliative care for people living with terminal or life-limiting illnesses across West Essex and East Herts border.

The services provided by the charity are free of charge to those who need care, but cost over £4.6 million a year to run.

With limited NHS funding, the majority of this cost is raised through donations and other voluntary sources.

Scarlet Vintage & Retro Shop Manager, Tracey Chippett, commented: “Each week that goes by, we become more in awe of our generous supporters who come and visit Scarlet Vintage & Retro! It really does feel like a special place in Harlow’s town centre – a community hub and an outlet for beautiful, sustainable fashion that inspires and delights our shoppers. However, we couldn’t do what we do without these incredible donations of vintage and retro items. Although Scarlet doesn’t feel like a charity shop, we still rely on the support of our local hospice heroes to keep raising vital funding for St Clare! If you have any vintage or retro items you are looking to pass on, please consider St Clare – your donations will definitely be loved and go to good homes at Scarlet Vintage & Retro!”

Scarlet Vintage & Retro celebrated its official launch on Saturday 20th October 2018, and has since received remarkable positive feedback from local residents and shoppers in the weeks that it has been open.

The store has already generated thousands in vital funding for St Clare Hospice, with thanks to its popularity amongst local people and shoppers.