They say time flies when you are having fun which means we must have had lots of fun at Imperial Charity because we can’t believe another year has passed since our last review.
As usual, the past year has been busy, challenging but very rewarding. Both shops have had an external makeover, with new signage and a spruce up. We have also had a new website designed which we are very proud of and would encourage people to visit it. Like many others, the furniture side of our fund raising has had a tough trading year, but the High Street shop continued to buck the trend and recorded consistently high sales figures which enabled the Trustees to approve a significant amount of expenditure for the year, to date, of nearly £31,000.
This sum enabled the charity to hire 21 coaches which took 1,015 people out for the day to the seaside or other places of interest over the summer months. It also paid for 160 sessions of entertainment in care and nursing homes throughout the county. Our little band of entertainers really worked hard and travelled many miles round the county.
One of the most rewarding aspects of our work is giving grants to the special needs schools. It is such a pleasure to be able to give the children the opportunity of either visiting or seeing things they wouldn’t ordinarily get the chance to do and also to be able to facilitate the provision of play and educational items as extras. To date this year, Trustees have approved grants totalling some £10,000.
Our annual New Year Show and Party was a huge success with standing room only. 250 people enjoyed an afternoon of non-stop entertainment and a superb buffet, organised and prepared by our wonderful band of ladies .We are so grateful for all the ladies who voluntarily make such gorgeous cakes for us. Preparations for this January’s show are well advanced and it has all the makings of another full house.
At the end of another very productive year, Trustees, all members of staff and volunteers would like to thank everyone who has so kindly donated items to our two shops and of course thanks also to everyone who has supported the shops which allows us to continue our charitable work.
