As businesses across Andover reopen all over town today (April 12), they’re also being joined by the charity sector, many of whom have seen their incomes hit.

Charity shops are among the many types of non-essential retail allowed to reopen by the government following the relaxation of restrictions.

Reports from Nottingham Trent University suggest that 33 per cent of charities said that they had reported a deteriorating financial position in February 2021, with a similar proportion expecting their revenue to continue to decline.

However, Andover’s charity shops have been fighting back, such as Neighbourcare, which runs both a charity shop and bookshop on Union Street.

Pam Delderfield and her team have been continuing to run the charity’s outreach programmes while having lost a significant amount of income. This includes maintaining a phone buddy system of over 500 people, as well as providing services such as transport to medical appointments and vaccinations; home care and gardening.

Pam said: “Having the shops back open will make a huge difference. We lost our main source of revenue last year and still had to pay the full rent.

“We desperately needed the place to open to pay the rates.”

Both shops have opened today, with a wide range of donations available to buy to help support the charity’s vital work.

Volunteer Peter said: “If you’re bored with your library and wardrobe at home, we’re here to help you restock.”

Andoverians have heeded their call, with Pam telling the Advertiser that business had been brisk on the first day of opening.

“It’s been reasonably busy,” she said. “We’re happy to be out of lockdown, and are looking forward to a successful reopening.”

However, they’re still looking for the community to continue to support them through the end of these restrictions and into a Covid-free future.

“We’re happy to take donations,” said Peter, “and to continue this good work we’re continually looking for volunteers, particularly drivers to take people to appointments.

To get in touch with Neighbourcare, you can call them on 01264 339899 or visit their website at https://andoverneighbourcare.co.uk/.