“ Twelve months ago I could never of seen myself returning to work. I am now in a position where I have been offered paid employment and look forward to once again being independent.”

Mind fundraising shops are an invaluable source of fundraising, and they are run by rotas of 130 volunteers.

There are currently two Mind shops in Croydon, which raise money for us by selling donated items of bric-a-brac, furniture and clothing. These are located in Selsdon, and Upper Norwood.

The Upper Norwood branch is part of our Enterprise House resource centre, and it operates as a work experience initiative for people who are recovering from mental illness. Since opening its doors, this commercial venture has doubled in size.

New customers to this branch often ask if it is a new shop in the high street. This is a reflection on all our members who provide a positive image and a warm welcome to all customers. Also their continued efforts have seen a dramatic rise in income, and this is invested back into the project to provide valuable additional resources.

This project also relies on fund raising through donations from the general public, and we welcome items such as household furniture, books, records, kitchenware (non electrical), clothing & bric-a-brac. These goods are then sorted within our premises for possible sale within this shop. All items need to be of good quality, and clothing may be recycled if not suitable for resale. Although we are unable to sell electrical goods to the general public because of safety regulations, we may be able to pass on certain items to our furniture service for clients in need. These items might include hoovers or televisions, for example. These items would of course need to be good working order.

The Enterprise shop is open between 10am and 4pm Monday to Friday and 10am – 12 noon on a Saturday. Enquiries can be made by calling: 0208 771 5950 and we have an answering machine available for messages outside of these working hours.

We are always in need of the following items:

Household furniture, books, records, kitchenware (non electrical), clothing & bric-a-brac

Collection can be arranged in the Croydon Borough area for large and bulky items. Call 0208 771 5950 or leave a message on the answerphone. House clearance can also be arranged, but items must meet our quality and safety criteria for sale in the shop – please refer to main text for details.

If you are interested in working as a volunteer in the Selsdon branch you can find out more information, and download an application form here. Application forms should be forwarded to the manager at the address in the link shown above. As the Enterprise Shop is run by members to gain work experience and learn independent living skills, we do not require volunteers at this branch.