DebRA's High Street Presence  The opening of the Dundee shop attended by Professor Irwin McLean, the lead on our Simplex EB programme based at Dundee University, and young Adana Forsyth, who cut the ribbon and declared the shop open. DebRA now has more than 60 shops across the UK - the public face of DebRA on the high street. Thanks to our legions of volunteers and our hard-working shop staff, the DebRA shops contribute greatly to DebRA's fundraising activities as well as providing information and a point of contact to our supporters, both old and new. We are continuing our growth in this area because every shop opened brings greater recognition of DebRA’s work and provides wonderful opportunities for friends of DebRA to help in a practical way either by contributing goods or by working at one of our shops and volunteering time. New Gift Aid Scheme could raise thousands for DebRA Signing up to the new Gift Aid scheme in DebRA’s Crowthorne, Cove and Merrow shops allows DebRA to claim an extra 28p for every pound raised through furniture sales. Customers who donate furniture simply sign a form confirming they are UK tax payers and DebRA can claim back extra money from the Government when the item is sold. The customer need do nothing more. Bob McDonald, Director of Retail for DebRA, said: “We have so many generous supporters who donate good quality pieces of furniture, raising a fantastic amount of money for DebRA. Now our supporters can boost those numbers simply by signing their names and confirming they are a UK Taxpayer. “Every £100 that we raise from furniture sales could then earn the charity an extra £28. That could make such an enormous difference to the work that DebRA does and therefore to the lives of all those living with EB. We are so excited about this scheme and the rewards it could bring to the EB community – we just hope that the public also gets on board and signs up.” Volunteers Volunteers are a vital part of the DebRA team and greatly contribute to our aim of finding effective treatments - and ultimately a cure - for EB.  To become a shops volunteer please contact Bob McDonald, Director of Retail (pictured left), on 01698 424210.
Alternatively you can support us with donations of clothing, books, furniture and other goods, which we can sell to raise funds. Or just call into the shops and see what bargains you can find. | 