A COUPLE are devastated to see a charity shop in Didcot closing as the building being demolished due to asbestos.

Carol Carpenter, who has lived in the town for 35 years, said she is heartbroken that Changing Lives, at the bottom of Broadway, will be closing at the end of October.

The charity, which has been there for almost a decade, provides relief for those in need by making grants and donations to individuals and organisations through the profits earned in the shop.

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However, the landlord has decided to demolish the building due to damage to the roof and asbestos.

Mrs Carpenter, who lives with her husband Ed, said the shop is a vital entity for people in the town and she hopes to help founder Valerie Prior find a new premise to rent.

She said: “My husband had a heart bypass and deep vein thrombosis (DVT) in both legs about two years ago and he couldn’t walk or anything.

“Changing Lives brought in an electric scooter which changed his life. Valerie knew I was really down because of it so she sent us on a holiday.

“One day she could called up out of the blue and, ‘What are you doing tomorrow?’ and I said, ‘Nothing’.

“She responded, ‘Now you are,’ and she sent me on a spa day. She’s so kind and people will be devasted to see it close.

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“She’s absolutely brilliant. Homeless people have come in before and she buys hotels for the night for them.

“You could go to that woman if you’re in need of help and she would never let you down. If we were in a serious position she would help you, she’s such a kind person.”

The store, which has 15 employees and volunteers, mostly sells new and second-hand goods including books, DVDS, household electrical items, furniture and more.

All money made goes back into the community and other charities.

Miss Prior, who also has a second store in Church Street, Wantage, said she hopes to find another location in town that is the same size and affordable.

There hasn’t been any luck so far and a petition, which has 335 signatures, has been started to help find the charity a new location.

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Mrs Carpenter added: “Valerie is so depressed at the shop closing, she feels like she is letting everyone down, and she is hoping someone will come up with a building she can rent, even for a year, otherwise we’re going to be losing something that is extremely useful to people in Didcot.”

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Read more from this author

This story was written by Gee Harland. She joined the team in 2022 as a senior multimedia reporter.

Gee covers Wallingford, Wantage and Didcot.

Get in touch with her by emailing: Gee.harland@newsquest.co.uk

Follow her on Twitter @Geeharland

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