Marie Curie opens new community hub in its Dunmurry shop

The Marie Curie charity shop and community hub in Kingsway is a new initiative where shoppers can drop off donations and browse for bargains as well as talking to trained ambassadors about Marie Curie services in times of need.

Money raised by all Marie Curie shops goes towards supporting Marie Curie caring services so they can continue providing expert care to terminally ill people and their families.

The community hub will sit within the long-established shop, as a space for the public to learn more about the services Marie Curie offers in the local area, from nursing services to bereavement counselling, and helper services. Trained staff and volunteers will be on hand to offer advice and signpost people to the relevant information. The new hub area will also be used for community fundraisers for their planning activities along with other volunteers and helper services.

Lord Mayor of Belfast Councillor Tina Black said: “I am delighted to have been invited to the opening of this fantastic Marie Curie community hub. This outstanding facility will provide a place to not only drop off donations but a safe place where people can avail of vital support services that Marie Curie provides in times of need. The staff and volunteer community provide a fantastic service to the community and I really wish them every success in the future and thank them for the work that they do. The impact that this initiative will have on those in need cannot be underestimated and I hope Marie Curie continues to get the recognition and funding that it deserves to support end of life care and bereavement support.”

Marie Curie Retail District Manager, Cathy Clarke, added: “This shop is totally unique because, not only will it function like our other charity shops selling donated goods, but it also doubles as a community hub - which is a space where local people can come to find out more about the services that Marie Curie offers in the Belfast area, like our bereavement support service and our volunteer helper service.

“I would like to congratulate the manager, Kathleen Lindsay and her Assistant Managers, Susan Kirkwood and Alison Kingham, on becoming Marie Curie Ambassadors. I’m confident that they will do a superb job in providing the signposting to Marie Curie services that our loyal donators and shoppers sometimes need.”