Charity told to leave premises weeks after opening

Susie Gessey signed a three year lease for her new shop but has been told to vacate after just two weeks

A Worcestershire charity has been given an eviction notice from its new premises two weeks after opening.

Susie Gessey founded the The Healing Horse Sanctuary in Bromsgrove in 2008, which offers a safe home for various animals, including horses, ponies and chickens.

The organisation opened a fundraising cafe at the beginning of February but was later served a 28 day notice to vacate.

"It has been emotionally quite crushing - I cry most days," Ms Gessey said, adding that she now feared for the charity's future without a regular source of income.

Gifts of Love opened on 2 February and was intended to be a regular source of income for The Healing Horse Sanctuary.

The sanctuary needs £50,000 a year to meet its running costs.

Speaking to BBC Hereford & Worcester, Ms Gessey said it had been a series of tough years but when the charity was offered a free retail space on Bromsgrove high street its luck appeared to have changed.

'I was so shocked'

Between November and January the team worked with local electricians, builders and plumbers to renovate and decorate the shop.

On 31 January, the shop was finished and ready for its grand opening on 2 February.

However, on 1 February Ms Gessey was informed another charity wanted to inspect the premises and were willing to pay £30,000 a year.

Gifts of Love opened regardless but on 15 February it was served its 28 day notice to vacate.

Recalling the day she was told her charity would need to leave, Ms Gessey said: "I remember asking if I could sit down because I was so shocked and I burst into tears.

"We literally sat here sobbing for half an hour not knowing what to do.

"This dream come true of having this head office and having regular income - not having to do constant fundraising every week - has turned into a crushing blow."

She added: "It has just been a catalogue of really sad events and I feel quite ill with it, I cannot sleep - I am not my normal jolly self."