Red Cross shop in Derry among first to re-open with extensive new safety measures

Extensive new safety measures have been implemented by the charity to make sure its shops are safe for customers, volunteers and staff.

Red Cross staff are asking customers to phone ahead to check opening hours until their shop is fully up and running again.

The Derry shop, which is one of the charity’s best performing stores across the whole of the UK, is among the first to re-open. The shop can be contacted on 028 7137 1690.

In store physical distancing, quarantining of new donations, and personal protective equipment for staff and volunteers, are just some of the new measures being put into place to ensure the highest level of safety and wellbeing for all staff and visitors.

Buying and donating to British Red Cross shops helps support the charity’s work - helping people in crisis in the UK and around the world. Funds generated from items sold in the charity’s network of shops are especially vital right now, as the Red Cross supports some of the most vulnerable people affected by Covid-19.

In Northern Ireland, Red Cross staff and volunteers have been working hard to support colleagues in the health and social care trusts, delivering food parcels, helping people home from hospital, driving ambulances, lending wheelchairs and supporting vulnerable refugees.

Paul Thompson, Director of Retail at the British Red Cross said: “The British Red Cross is putting plans in place to start re-opening retail shops from 22 June. Safety and wellbeing has been at the heart of all our decision making process throughout coronavirus, and this phased approach will allow us to continuously monitor, learn and adapt to keep our staff and customers safe. From managing the number of customers in our shops, adjusting layouts and encouraging contactless payments, we have extensively planned measures to ensure the safety of our people and supporters. This positive step forward will help us raise funds to continue our vital work, helping people in crisis and during COVID-19, whoever and wherever they are.”

Find out more about the British Red Cross at www.redcross.org.uk