While we are a Christian Charity and work within Christian ethics, we do not try at any time to impose our beliefs or values on others. We display Christian posters, offer free bibles and try to demonstrate through our ethics, the reality of our faith.
The Charity is registered with the Charity Commission and was formed officially as a Charitable Trust in 2000. The objects of the Charity, as set out with the Commission are:-
‘We exist to enable people irrespective of their race or religion to be provided with the BASICs of life: Shelter, Food, Education, Recreation and Spiritual guidance’
Over the years we have been able to assist countless groups, individuals and organisations with funding, and/or practical and emotional support.
We now operate two retail shops and a totally separate National and International account – known as the ‘general account’. From the ‘general account’ the Charity has been able to provide funding to such diverse causes as Tsunami relief, training of midwives in Nepal, Indian mobile doctors, Philippine children’s aid and missions to many areas around the world ranging from Guatemala to Lebanon and many others.
The Felixstowe shop was originally opened next to Safeway on the Cavendish Park Estate in November 2000. We were forced to move from that location when Safeway were taken over by Morrisons. We then opened an alternate shop at 20 Orwell Road in Felixstowe town centre in 2005. We moved to bigger premises at 17 Hamilton Road during 2012.
All proceeds from the shops are used to assist needs in the Felixstowe, Walton and the Trimley areas.These have included donations to both High Schools, scout and guide groups, several doctor’s surgeries, local groups and organisations and a large number of individual needs have been met.
The funds from the shops are very strictly restricted to the Felixstowe area with the only exception being funding to Heath Road Hospital, Ipswich Hospice or similar facilities as these are resources used by Felixstowe residents.
In June 2011 we opened a second shop at 312 High Street, Walton.This enabled us to provide a service to the Walton and Trimleys while, at the same time, allowing the Felixstowe shop to be exclusively responsible for Felixstowe needs.
In March 2013 we started the Donations Into Parcels (DIP) food bank project. It has been recognised by the Suffolk County Council and we work under Local Welfare Assistance guidelines.
In 2014 we opened a storage and sorting depot and developed our online presence.
Money has never been our driving force and we always remember that all items are donated to us.
We work in the faith that we shall be blessed with the opportunity to help more people and continue to be a driving force in the Felixstowe community.
Graham Denny (Founder/Administrator)
