“Christmas every day” at Wimbledon Guild Charity Shop

Staff and volunteers at Wimbledon Guild’s shop are inviting shoppers in for a cup of tea and mince pies while they browse for bargains in the run-up to Christmas.

Jill Caney, manager of the shop for the last 10 years, says it’s like Christmas every day thanks to the warm welcome offered by her team of volunteers, and the sacks of donated goodies they get to open most days.

Jill said: “I love my job. It’s like Christmas all year round in here as it’s not just a shop, it’s a hub where local people come in not just to look for bargains, but to have a chat and a cup of tea and some company.

“Many of our regulars are elderly people and our amazing volunteers are always ready with a chat and a cuppa.

“We’re also lucky that people donate such fantastic items to us and every time we open a bag, it’s like Christmas all over again, discovering the treasures that are inside.

“They say that one person’s unwanted items are another person’s unclaimed treasures and that is so true.”

Visitors will find the shop in full festive swing with Jill dressed for the season in a series of Christmas outfits including Mrs Claus and one of Santa’s reindeer.

Local people looking to shop ethically and give a gift to their loved ones, while giving something back, will find plenty to choose from at Wimbledon Guild’s shop, based on Upper East Green in Mitcham, including a lovely display of Christmas ornaments and the Christmas bauble box filled with sparkling decorations costing just 20p each.

The 20p toy box is filled with cars, figures and other small toys which would make perfect stocking fillers. Toiletry gift sets, handbags, hats and scarves are other popular presents.

Jill said: “I love the bauble box as it changes every day. People tend to change their Christmas decorations every year now and this offers a fantastic opportunity to do that and help us raise funds at the same time.

“Shopping here definitely has the personal touch. We also have many families who come in  and the 20p toy box is really popular with children.”

Wimbledon Guild helps people of all ages across Merton and as Christmas can be a particularly difficult time for those in need, the charity is also appealing for donations of good quality women’s and men’s clothes, accessories and home wares.

Wimbledon Guild Chief Executive Wendy Pridmore said: “There is hardship at Christmas in our community but there is hardship all year round.

“We are currently giving cash grants to people in need just so they can eat during the festive season.

“We need as much support and donations as possible and a great way of giving is to support our charity shop.”

The shop is open Monday to Saturday from 9.30am to 4.30pm. For more information please visit Wimbledon Guild.

Public transport services over the festive season

Changes to Wimbledon’s public transport services during the festive season (for more details please visit Transport for London and South West Trains):

Saturday 24 December
SW Trains: Saturday service, closing down early from 7pm
Tube: Early finish (complete your journey around 11.30pm), no Night Tube
Tram: From 6pm trams will run every 15min and then from 8pm every 20min until normal last tram times
Bus: 24 hour services finish around midnight, no night services

Sunday 25 December: no service on public transport

Monday 26 December
SW Trains: no service
Tube: District Line closed
Tram: No service on Line 4 (Elmers End – Wimbledon), Sunday service elsewhere with weekday start and finish times
Bus: Sunday service

Tuesday 27 December
SW Trains: Saturday service
Tube: District Line closed
Tram: No service on Line 4 (Elmers End – Wimbledon), Sunday service elsewhere with weekday start and finish times
Bus: Weekend service during day, usual Tuesday service at night

Wednesday 28 December
SW Trains: revised Saturday service
Tube: District Line closed
Tram: Saturday service, with weekday start and finish times
Bus: Saturday service during day, usual Wednesday service at night

Thursday 29 December
SW Trains: revised Saturday service
Tube: District Line closed
Tram: Saturday service, with weekday start and finish times
Bus: Saturday service during day, usual Thursday service at night

Friday 30 December
SW Trains: revised Saturday service
Tube: District Line closed
Tram: Saturday service, with weekday start and finish times
Bus: Saturday service during day, usual Friday service at night

Saturday 31 December: free travel across TfL network between 11.45pm – 4.30am
SW Trains: Saturday service
Tube: Services run throughout the night, but some stations will be closed
Tram: 30min service all night between Wimbledon and Beckenham Junction & Wimbledon and New Addington
Bus: Saturday service

Sunday 1 January
SW Trains: Sunday service with additional early morning services out of Waterloo
Tube: Reduced Sunday service after 12 noon
Tram: No service on Line 4 (Elmers End – Wimbledon)
Bus: Sunday service

Monday 2 January
SW Trains: revised Saturday service
Tube: Saturday service
Tram: No service on Line 4 (Elmers End – Wimbledon), Sunday service elsewhere
Bus: Sunday service

PubWatch helps launch “Ask for Angela” safety campaign in Wimbledon

Love Wimbledon, working in partnership with Merton Council and Wimbledon police, has played a key role in helping to promote the ground-breaking personal safety campaign, “Ask for Angela” since raising awareness of it at the November PubWatch meeting. It was agreed by PubWatch attendees that all pubs, clubs and bars in Wimbledon Town Centre would take part in the campaign.

Originally launched by Lincolnshire County Council in September, the “Ask for Angela” campaign has attracted widespread support across the country, offering a simple but highly effective procedure for anyone feeling unsafe or uncomfortable in a public venue to quickly and discreetly seek help.

Following the PubWatch meeting, local police worked closely with Merton Council to promote the campaign across the borough. All of Wimbledon Town Centre’s pubs, clubs and bars are on board, displaying posters on their premises, publicising the campaign via social media and briefing staff on how to manage potentially distressful situations.

Advice for staff when someone “Asks for Angela”:

  1. Offer to take the person asking for help to a part of venue not in sight of the public or potential threat eg: staff room, kitchen, toilets
  2. Offer to call the person a taxi or assist them in calling a friend/family member to come and collect them
  3. Request the person causing distress to leave the venue, only if safe to do so ie: the person asking for help is out of sight and the staff consider it safe
  4. Ask the person in distress what it is they want to do – it might be they just want to alert staff that things are becoming uncomfortable and might need someone to keep watch whilst they collect possessions from the area where they were seated
  5. Do not allow the person asking for help to leave the venue in sight of the person causing them distress as this could lead to them being followed out of the venue and placed at higher risk
  6. If the person causing distress becomes angry consider calling the police for assistance or follow your corporate policy on this issue

In an emergency dial 999

Non Emergency dial 101

 

 

 

New look Elys – great designer brands all under one roof

This Christmas season is the perfect opportunity to visit the delightful Elys independent department store in Wimbledon. Elys has burst into life with the revamp of the 3rd floor (homeware, travel and electrical) bringing the full interior refurbishment of the entire store to completion. So you can shop for all your Christmas gifts right in the heart of Wimbledon Town Centre.

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New to the store is the White Company, occupying a large space on the 3rd floor with their celebrated clothing range and stunning home accessories (including sumptuous bedding!) Alongside the White Company you’ll also find an array of other leading home brands including Ted Baker, LSA and Clarissa Hulse.

elysjomalone

For sophisticated scents and fragrances visit Molton Brown or the all-new Jo Malone, both in the ground floor health and beauty department along with premium make-up from Bobbi Brown, non-perfumed ranges from Clinique and a unique selection of high-end concessions offering expertise and advice. Christmas is a time to indulge, so step away from the hustle and bustle, save yourself a trip into London and experience luxurious shopping right here in the heart Wimbledon – all under one roof at Elys!

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Elys also offers an extensive range of customer benefits including:

  • Free styling sessions
  • Gift box service
  • Personal Christmas shopping
  • Alterations studio

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In-store treatment roomsWhile you’re treating yourself, let the kids explore Elys’ extended range of toys and young fashion or visit Santa’s Enchanting Grotto in the Christmas Shop, all on the 2nd floor.

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And a visit to Ely’s elegant restaurant on the top floor is the perfect way to complete your Christmas shopping experience.

Don’t forget to join in our Nutcracker Trail on Saturday 10 December – festive fun for the whole family in Wimbledon Town Centre.