A city charity shop is to close next month because it it no longer viable, according to the organisation which runs the service.
The Age Action shop at Abbeygate Street will shut its doors for the last time on April 16.
The board of the national charity for older people, which operated the 10-year-old store, says the decision to close was an “extremely difficult” one. It was made following a financial review of all its charity shops.
“The aim of our shops is to raise essential revenue to enable us continue our work with older people,” says Age Action chief executive Robin Webster.
“The shop in Upper Abbeygate Street was no longer financially viable and so the board has decided that it should close and the resources used to support it used in other ways to generate funds. We have had a shop in Galway city for the last 10 years and it was an extremely difficult decision to take,” he said.
He says the decision to close is no reflection on the “dedication and commitment” of the staff and volunteers at the Galway shop. The closure will result in the loss of one full-time position.
Age Action’s work with older people in Galway will not be affected by the shop closure. The Age Action West team provides a care and repair (home visitation and DIY ) programme to support older people in their own homes. It also runs its “Getting Started” computer training programme for older people. “These services will continue,” Mr Webster stressed.
The closure of the Galway shop highlights the struggle the charity is facing to raise sufficient funds during the recession.
“People sometimes forget that we are a charity and we desperately need funds to continue our work with older people. If you support our work then we would urge you to help our fundraising.”
Age Action is seeking participants for its fundraising parachute jump on May 15 and 16, and the Flora Dublin Women’s Mini Marathon on June 7. For further details visit www.ageaction.ie or telephone (01 ) 4756989.
