Grand opening of young people's charity shop

The council has been working with Groundwork North Northants, Rushden Community College and the Police to open a shop on Rushden High Street which is being run by young people from the Rushden area. The shop is helping to teach them life skills and give them experience of being in a work environment.

Cllr Barbara Jenney, Ward member for Hayden, said: "I am delighted we have been able to get this project off the ground. When I originally floated the suggestion, I had no idea it would receive such enthusiastic response from the agencies working with young people, local councillors, the police, East Northamptonshire Council and Rushden Town Council, Groundwork NorthNorthants and most of all from Palmbest Ltd who have allowed us to use the old Seabrooks shop. This project offers the young people involved a real opportunity to develop and learn skills for life."

The shop, at 103, High Street, Rushden, was officially opened by Malcolm Carter of Palmbest Ltd accompanied by funders of the project.

Each member of staff has nominated a local charity and the person who scores the most in the Apprentice style marking will donate the proceeds to the charity of their choice.

Naomi, 14, says: "I’m really interested in media and plan to take a media GCSE next year so helping to set up and run the shop has shown me all sorts of ways that the media can help local businesses and the community. This project will keep me entertained over the summer holidays and I’ll go back to school in September with skills that other people in my class won’t have."

Kieran, 14, says: "We’ve been sorting through clothes for the shop and today I learned how to iron which wasn’t that bad. I’m not telling my mum though or she’ll have me doing it all the time. I’m really looking forward to the shop opening; it’s a great project."

County Councillor, Andy Mercer, has donated £2,000 from his empowerment fund to the project. He says: "I'm especially pleased to be able to help the young people of Rushden and the High Street at the same time. It's a wonderful opportunity to show some young people how to set up a business and to engage them in the economy. It is also helpful to be able to bring some life to a shop that otherwise would be closed and detracting from the High Street. Finally, there is a chance to create some new business activity and in a very small way perhaps grow the economy."