BARNARDO’S store in Ilkley has just celebrated its second anniversary and is now asking the people of Ilkley for their support to help raise money to support vulnerable children and their families in the area.

New shop manager Janet Beel said: “This shop is a little gem – it is by Moorlands car park so if you park there you’ll see us and it’s very easy to drop off donations. We’ve just celebrated our second anniversary and we are getting busier all the time, so we would love to have more volunteers and we always need donations.

“I’ve been working for Barnardo’s for four years and I’ve just moved over from our Meanwood store in Leeds – I love it here in beautiful Ilkley and I love working for a children’s charity, knowing what we do makes a real difference to vulnerable and disadvantaged children and young people in Yorkshire, whether they are young carers or children who have been in care.”

Volunteer Fiona Kearns from Ilkley, who volunteers on Fridays at the shop, said: “My grandad was in a Barnardo’s home so I feel a real connection with the charity. It’s a nice environment to work in and it’s a very satisfying thing to do. I like to interact with customers - you meet people you wouldn’t necessarily meet, it’s very friendly and it’s a nice atmosphere.”

Volunteers are the backbone of Barnardo’s shops and the charity would not be able to do what it does without them. They get involved for many reasons - from supporting the work and cause, to doing something unusual and inspiring or learning new skills. It is fun and rewarding, an opportunity to meet new people and it can even be a stepping stone to a new career.

The Ilkley shop sells men's and women’s clothes, bric-a-brac, books, DVDs and CDs amongst other things. The full address is Ilkley Community Store, Unit 1 & 4, South Hawksworth Street, The Moors Shopping Centre, Ilkley, West Yorkshire LS29 9LB.

Anyone interested in volunteering only needs to pop in and say hello. All Barnardo’s volunteers are given full training and support.