Two of Hadleigh's leading community support organisations have combined forces to offer an even more streamlined service to those in need.

'Hadleigh Thrift Shop' and the food bank group 'Just Food' today announced their new collaboration that will see them working even closer together.

The two organisations will combine their resources, volunteers and transportation facilities to help each other. Just Food founder Neil J Bevis has also set up a new Facebook page to help create public awareness and support the Hadleigh Thrift Shop and will be sharing into other social platforms.

Barbara Boyd, who helped set up the Hadleigh Thrift Shop 22 years ago, is delighted that the new collaboration has come about.

"It is extremely important to work with Just Food," said Barbara. "We have always been very interested in what the foodbank has been doing and now we have our chance to collaborate with Neil and Julia in this way.

"It is wonderful that the volunteers have continued to come into the store to sort the donations out during these uncertain times. Many people have been frighted to to go out, so it is highly commendable what they are doing."

Julia Hepworth, Just Food manager, based at the Ansell Centre, is committed to helping vulnerable residents in the town and surrounding villages.

She believes the unity is a natural progression for both parties and said: "We have an umbrella of community support groups with a number of services and we felt a collaboration with Hadleigh Thrift Shop would be such a good fit.

"It means we can all help out and contribute to the fund raising for the Food Bank and for the Thrift Shop".

"I have come in many times to get clothes for the homeless, or those just starting out in a new home that are struggling, so the shop is helpful in that respect too. It therefore made sense to collaborate even more."

The new Hadleigh Thrift Shop Facebook page is now live and ready to grow, please like and share where possible.

Neil said: "These pages will help create awareness of the joint enterprise and help both organisations".

"We can also share transport to move the food, furniture and the clothes and improve the logistics of what we are both trying to achieve."

The shop will continue to take donations and Barbara praised everyone that helps out.

She said: "It has been absolutely wonderful for me and the many ladies who have been with us in the time that the Thrift Shop has been open, particularly over the past 18 months whilst things have been so uncertain".

"People say to us what a wonderful thing we are doing, but it comes back to us ten-fold. Make no mistake, it has enriched my life.

"The volunteers are all greatly appreciated."

One of the Thrift Shop's most popular, and shop manager Joan Ramling's favourite non-clothing items, are the amazing dolls houses made by a local gentleman who donates them for free. The shop currently has three for sale.

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