Our Story
Who We Are.
Our Story
The 1st shop in Meanwood Precinct was opened in 1977 by Reginald Martin. It raised money for Mencap, largely because he had a son, Trevor, with severe learning disabilities. In 1981 his wife, who also worked at the charity shop, died, in 1984 Reg Martin also died and a few months later Trevor passed away at the hospital in Easingwold where he lived. They all died of cancer.
Mr Martin’s daughter, Teresa Felton, decided to keep the shop open with the existing dedicated workforce, and from those small beginnings, there are now 2 shops serving the needs of the local community, raising funds to support local families. By donating your saleable items, you enable us to carry on.
Our Main Shop The Book ShopThe Community Trust
We are a group of Volunteers and Staff who care passionately about helping those local families who are less fortunate than we are. We work in 2 Charity Shops, selling donated items and using the money raised to help local families in crisis.
The Community Trust has, since its inception, built up an enviable reputation in Leeds because of it’s unique operation, enabling it to work with all the caring agencies in Leeds, quickly and effectively, making a real difference to local people in need.
Our History
In 1985 our charity shop became an independent charity with the trustees distributing the money raised ,via requests for help from social workers and care agencies in Leeds. It was an immediate success with the money we raised steadily increasing every year. In 1989 we were granted charity status. We formed a limited company for the shops (we had two by then). All the profits of the shop go to the Trust, by a Deed of Covenant. The Limited Company pays all the expenses of the shops and the Trust. This means 100% of all money donated to the Trust goes 100% to the local families we help. That means – all of it !