If you have ever visited the Gloucester YMCA store, you’ll know that it’s larger than most charity shops and offers a wealth of high-quality stock.
Located on Northgate Street, manager Irene Rose expertly runs the Gloucester YMCA. Irene is a proud Gloucester native who has worked at the branch for two years. She is a perfect fit for the YMCA having worked in the charity sector for 14 years with experience in youth work and learning support.
Initially, just for young men, the YMCA has expanded to focus on raising money to support, advise, find accommodation, and help the health and wellbeing of young people in their local communities. The YMCA was founded by Sir George Williams, a worker in the drapery trade in London. It now has over 100 shops throughout England and Wales.
With its vast space, the Gloucester shop holds a wide variety of items from clothing to furniture. Irene is proud of the offer in her store, she said, ‘We have such a variety from electrical, clothes to the picture gallery. Everything has got to be excellent quality and we have lots of designer labels. Our current best-sellers are our ladies’ clothes, and they are a really competitive price as we haven’t put prices up.’
Irene says, ‘I love the customers coming in and it’s nice for people to have a regular face.’
To help get as much traffic into the store and support the community in the best way they can, the YMCA in Gloucester has its own Facebook page @YMCA Gloucester Charity Shop to communicate all their offers and events to customers.
