Charity shop closure 'means town losing safe space'

The YMCA shop is closing on Northgate Street

A volunteer at a Gloucester charity shop that is set to close down has warned the city is losing a safe space.

The YMCA shop, on Northgate Street, is due to close its doors for the final time at the end of trading on Saturday. The building that the shop is based in is being sold by the landlord.

Carley Loade said volunteering at the shop had done "absolute wonders" for her mental health.

The YMCA has been approached for comment.

Carley Loade says closing the shop is a big blow

Ms Loade started volunteering in September and said getting out while her daughter was at school meant she was not "stuck at home".

"I get to have conversations and do something helpful and useful."

She the shop closing was "a massive blow to me".

"Once the shop is all packed up I'll be sat at home alone," she said.

"We have lots of customer support and do have a lot of regulars. We also have people who treat us as a safe space and a community.

"They may only spend a pound, but they have somewhere warm to wander around. We're definitely going to be missed."

Farmhouse Deli was the previous business to close on the street

The closure is another blow to Northgate Street, with the former Sainsbury's and Wilko stores empty and the recent closure of Farmhouse Deli.

The building that housed Wilko was sold earlier this year but, as yet, no details on its future use have been revealed.

The former Sainsbury's unit has seen plans for accommodation approved.