Jessie May Childrens Hospice Pops Up at Yate Shopping Centre
Date Posted:16/06/2015
The Jessie May charity, a local children’s charity based in Kingswood, South Glos has opened its first ever pop-up shop in Yate Shopping Centre and took over £1,800 in the first week thanks to the generosity of local residents.
The shop, donated free of charge for two months from 1st June to 31st July by the Centre, is located at 33 North Walk. Andrew Lowrey, Shopping Centre Manager, said: “As a local children’s charity we wanted to provide support for this very valuable service. It is not a high profile charity but with a pop-up shop in the Centre, it will help them both raise funds and establish a local profile.”
The charity was founded in 1996 when Jessica May, aged just four and a half years old, died at home surrounded by her family and supported by a team of nurses. Her parents then established the Jessie May Charity to ensure that every child who is not expected to reach adulthood receives nursing care within the home. Since 1996 the Charity has been providing this care, free of charge, in Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire.
Head of Fundraising and Communications for the Charity, Julian Withers, said: “We had a fabulous first week and took over £1800!! I don’t think any of us expected this and we are amazed at everyone’s generosity.
“We are so grateful to Yate Shopping Centre for donating our first pop up shop. Having a shop within the centre will not only raise vital funds but will also help us raise our profile within the community. For Jessie May to be associated with such a prestigious shopping centre is fantastic and we are looking forward to raising lots of money and awareness over the next couple of months. Because of the fantastic donation of the shop we are truly able to say that 100% of the money raised by the shop will go towards the vital work of Jessie May Nurses.”
