Leading sight loss charity Beacon has launching its first combined coffee and charity shop, due to public demand.
The Mayor and Mayoress of Dudley, Steve and Jayne Waltho, cut the ribbon to formally open Reflections Coffee Lounge and Charity Shop, located at Churchill House, Hagley Street, Halesowen.
The new venture was inspired by requests from Beacon customers, explained Beacon chief executive Arwyn Jones.
He said: “People often tell us they feel they need to sit down with a hot drink after browsing in the charity’s stores as there is so much stock to choose from, so now they can!
“As part of the charity’s ambition to continuously improve and enhance services for the visually impaired across the Black Country, we are delighted to be starting this new venture of a combined coffee and charity shop in Halesowen.
“We have had terrific donations and sales at our old Halesowen charity shop on Queensway over the past 10 years, so we are confident that this new approach in the relocated shop will continue to attract the support we so greatly value from the local community.”
All money raised from Beacon’s charity shops supports a full range of facilities and support for visually impaired people, including a mix of residential, day care and community services.
More than 3,000 people in the community receive support from a team of dedicated outreach workers and social groups can meet at the Sedgley centre to participate in arts and crafts, music, fitness and IT sessions.
To find out more visit www.beaconvision.org