The charity’s 17 shops across three North London boroughs help raise £1m towards the care it provides locally

North London Hospice’s newest store has opened at Palace Gardens Shopping Centre in Enfield Town.

Although the local charity has 17 shops across Enfield, Barnet and Haringey, the newest outlet is the first to operate from within a shopping centre and comes after the previous local shop in Church Street closed its doors three months ago.

The first North London Hospice shop opened in Wood Green in 1989 and the charity has had a store in Enfield since 1990. Each year the hospice’s shops contribute more than £1million to the charity’s running costs, which have now reach nearly £16m. While around a third of funding comes from the NHS, the rest comes from retail and fundraising.

Last year the hospice launched a public campaign after a huge rise in energy costs put services under pressure.

Bambos Charalambous, Labour’s parliamentary candidate for Southgate and Wood Green, had the honour of opening the new charity shop at Palace Gardens. He explained how much the hospice had meant to him personally after they cared for one of his family.

“I have first-hand experience of North London Hospice after they cared for a member of my family recently,” said Charalambous. “They do incredible work for our community, and I am proud to be a supporter of this wonderful charity.”

Anna Cooper, director of fundraising and communications, said: “Our shops are more than places to come and buy second-hand goods. They are a central point of our North London community. It is fitting that our first store in a shopping centre has opened in Enfield, where one of our first shops opened more than 30 years ago. We really hope the community supports our new venture here in Palace Gardens and in return that we can strengthen our support in the community here.”

Geoffrey Hill, a North London Hospice patron, said: “Each year of the 16million it costs to run it, the hospice needs to raise more than £10m. Our 17 shops contribute well over £1m each year and are vital to keeping our services running to support the thousands of people we care for each year. By donating unwanted items and shopping here in our store you’re helping us to provide the best of life, at the end of life, for everyone.”

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