Tag: South Bridge

Edinburgh charity shop in need of local support after fire

A charity shop which was left devastated after a fire broke out in the building above is calling for locals to ‘come and see them’ after struggling to regain local support since reopening at the end of last year. 

A fire broke out in the building above the South Bridge PDSA charity shop last June, causing the shop to close for five months.   

The shop located at 88-89 South Bridge, EH1 1HN, officially re-opened again at the end of last November, but has since struggled to regain the local support it had before the fire.  

PDSA Cluster Shop Manager, Fiona Lawrie, said: “Since the unavoidable closure of South Bridge, after re-opening we’re not as busy as we once were. We miss seeing all of the old familiar faces and would love to see them in store again!

“The shop is also in need of donations and would be very grateful if any locals had a ‘spring clean’ and sent some unwanted goods our way, in particular womenswear.  

“Our charity shops play a huge role in helping to fund the veterinary care in our Pet Hospitals, and the local community is truly at the centre of it! We’re so grateful to everyone who dedicates their time to helping out in our shops, as well as everyone who donates goods, or shops with us.   

“The store in South Bridge provides the lovely locals the chance to purchase high-quality, cut-price products while supporting a vital charity service. We’re hopeful the shop will once again become a staple spot for locals to enjoy.  

“We are extremely grateful to all of the people who support PDSA because they believe in what we do. It’s the generous support from donating unwanted items, making a purchase, or volunteering in our charity shops, that goes back into helping keep people and pets together in their times of need through our Pet Hospitals.”   

For anyone who wishes to browse, shop or donate, visit the store at: PDSA South Bridge shop, 88-89 South Bridge, EH1 1HN.  

Charity shop set to reopen after fire calls for public donations

Earlier this year, a fire broke out in the building above the PDSA South Bridge charity shop, causing the shop to close for the foreseeable future. The shop located at 88-89 South Bridge, EH1 1HN, closed in June, but is very nearly ready to officially re-open again.

Before the shop reopens its doors again to eager shoppers, the team are hoping the supportive local community will head over there to donate any unwanted goodies.

PDSA Cluster Shop Manager, Fiona Lawrie, said: “Since the unavoidable closure of South Bridge five months ago, we’ve had a flurry of support from locals at our nearby Nicolson Street shop. We’re hoping before we re-open South Bridge, lovely locals will pop by to donate any unwanted items they may have, so we can open the doors again, stocked with fresh finds!

“We would like to say a huge thank you to everyone who has supported us, the fire was a big shock to our team, but we’re more than ready to head back into the shop and welcome previous supporters, and new faces through the door.”

The shop is not yet open for people to browse around, however the official re-opening date will be announced very soon. 

For anyone who wishes to donate any items, please drop any goods off at PDSA South Bridge, 88-89 South Bridge, EH1 1HN. 

Vet charity’s Edinburgh shop is set to open next week

PDSA, the vet charity for pets in need, has revealed it will be opening the doors of its new shop in Edinburgh next week.

Bargain-loving customers will have the opportunity to pick-up an array of pre-loved and new items when they are welcomed into the South Bridge store for the first time on Thursday 3 November.

The charity shop will support PDSA’s vital veterinary work across its 48 Pet Hospitals – including its local centre in the city​​ – which care for thousands of pets whose owners struggle to afford essential treatments.

Cluster Shop Manager Fiona Lawrie said the new store will provide cash-conscious customers with the opportunity to purchase high-quality, cut-price products while supporting a vital veterinary service.

She added: “We are absolutely delighted to be opening our new shop in South Bridge and supporting the important work carried out by PDSA’s Pet Hospitals which help thousands of poorly pets and support their owners through challenging times.

“We understand that many people are struggling financially due to the rising cost of living and are looking forward to helping those who are feeling the squeeze by offering a wealth of pre-loved and brand-new items at great prices. From clothes and books to homeware and toys, we are certain that shoppers will find some incredible hidden treasures.”

Volunteer roles, which offer a great opportunity for people to boost their CV, gain valuable work experience, and grow in confidence while helping sick and injured pets, are available at the new charity shop.

Fiona said: “We’re looking for friendly and dedicated people aged 18 or over to join our team at South Bridge in Edinburgh. Volunteering with us is a great way to give something back to the community and make a real difference to the lives of people and pets.

“It doesn’t matter if you don’t have previous retail experience – we provide full training, and we’ll reimburse your travel expenses so you’re not out of pocket. All you need is a few spare hours a week, a positive attitude, and a willingness to learn.

“The pandemic had a huge impact on PDSA’s fundraising activities which is why the support provided by our retail volunteers is so important. We don’t receive any government funding towards running our vital veterinary services so the generosity of the community who donate items to our shops, and the time dedicated to us by our volunteers, mean we can be there for pets and their owners when they are most in need.”

The new shop will be open from 9.30am-5.30pm Monday to Saturday.

To find out about volunteering opportunities at the new store, please contact Fiona Lawrie by calling 07557 196831 or email lawrie.fiona@pdsa.org.uk.

Alternatively, visit the following link to apply for a role online: 

https://www.pdsa.org.uk/volunteer-south-bridge.

No pet owner should be faced with losing a beloved pet because they can no longer afford to pay for treatment. For many vulnerable pets, PDSA is there to help when there is nowhere else for their owners to turn.

PDSA encourages all supporters to sign up for Gift Aid* if they are a UK tax-payer, to help their donations go even further. Gift Aid allows PDSA to claim an additional 25 per cent of the value of each item sold.

To find out more visit PDSA’s charity shops page.

Vet charity appeals for volunteers ahead of South Bridge shop launch

PDSA, the vet charity for pets in need, is calling on kind-hearted volunteers to support its life-saving work by offering a helping hand in its soon-to-be launched Edinburgh charity shop.

The store, which is set to open next month, will help to fund vital veterinary work across PDSA’s 48 Pet Hospitals – including its local centre in the city – which care for thousands of pets whose owners struggle to afford essential treatments.

Cluster Shop Manager Fiona Lawrie, who will co-ordinate the opening of the South Bridge shop, is encouraging animal lovers who can spare a few hours a week to get in touch and find out about the exciting opportunities available.

Fiona said: “The pandemic had a huge impact on PDSA’s fundraising activities which is why the support provided by the incredible people who volunteer in our shops is so important.

“We receive no government funding towards running our vital vet services and everything we do is supported by the generosity of the pet-loving public whose kind donations of time, money, and items mean we can be there for pets and their owners when they are most in need.

“Volunteering is an excellent way to assist charities and do something that makes a real difference to the lives of others, but it is also a great way to make new friends, gain confidence, and enhance your CV. 

“We’re looking for friendly and dedicated people aged 18 or over to join our team at South Bridge in Edinburgh – it doesn’t matter if you don’t have previous retail experience, we provide full training and we’ll reimburse your travel expenses so you’re not out of pocket. All you need is a few spare hours a week, a positive attitude, and a willingness to learn.”

To find out about volunteering opportunities at the new store, please contact Fiona Lawrie by calling 07557 196831 or email lawrie.fiona@pdsa.org.uk.

Alternatively, visit the following link to apply for a role online: https://www.pdsa.org.uk/volunteer-south-bridge.

No pet owner should be faced with losing a beloved pet because they can no longer afford to pay for treatment. For many vulnerable pets, PDSA is there to help when there is nowhere else for their owners to turn.

PDSA encourages all supporters to sign up for Gift Aid* if they are a UK taxpayer, to help their donations go even further. Gift Aid allows PDSA to claim an additional 25 per cent of the value of each item sold.