After being unoccupied for a number of years, the former L & F Jones store at the heart of Peasedown St John's shopping street will re-open as a brand new Mercy in Action charity shop.

The shop will be run by local residents Mary Warren and Sarah Copsey and aims to benefit the whole community whilst raising much needed cash for orphaned children in the Philippines.

Mercy in Action was launched in 1995 when John and Allison Todd from Bath visited the Philippians and were horrified by the conditions that many of the orphaned children were living in.

Following their visit, they then came back to the UK, and started raising funds to change these children’s lives

15 years later the charity continues to support homeless, orphaned children in the Philippines by running drop in centres where they can get food, weekly schooling and have a shower.

The organisation is currently raising money to build new houses in the country where the children can live with foster parents.

The new shop in Peasedown will be one of several in the Bath area, all of which raise money for the charities aims.

The shop’s manager, Mary Warren commented:

“We want this new shop to be a community centre, as well as charity shop. We’ll have an area where people can sit down and relax, and read a book. We’d also like to put up a notice board where various groups and organisations can promote their activities.”

Mary and Sarah are looking for residents to volunteer in the shop. If anyone would like to help they can contact Mary on 01761 439244.

The new shop will be officially opened by local Councillors Nathan Hartley and Sarah Bevan, the Chairman of Bath & North East Somerset Council, on Wednesday 8^th September at 2pm. Everyone is welcome to come along.

Cllr Sarah Bevan added:

“I've been approaching various local charities to take over this lease for about a year now, so I'm really pleased that Mercy in Action has moved in, especially with such clear cut charitable aims for the most vulnerable members of Philippino society.

A charity shop will benefit all of us living in Peasedown, and complement existing shops and businesses already in the area.”