A NATIONAL charity are opening their largest Cumbrian shop in a bid to drive fundraising.

Age UK South Lakeland will be setting up shop in a showroom that is over 4,000 square feet in Ulverston.

The new 'superstore' will create three new jobs for the area, as well as offering volunteering opportunities for local people.

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Hugh Tomlinson, deputy chief officer of Age UK South Lakeland, said that the store will offer a 'different kind' of shopping experience for customers.

"It'll be a very relaxed way to shop," he said. "You can have a coffee, listen to an album before you buy it.

"It's like a larger supermarket but without the hustle and bustle of a supermarket."

The showroom, located on the Canal Head Business & Retail Park, is 4,095 square feet and has been let to Age UK South Lakeland on a 10 year lease.

As austerity measures continue and charities compete to receive funding grants, Mr Tomlinson said that physical shops were increasingly important.

"We have got to look to ourselves to raise funds," he said. "It's a model that seems to work for us."

Mr Tomlinson cited the Age UK Grange superstore as an example of a successful superstore.

"You can buy larger items of furniture which you couldn't do in smaller shops," he said. "A lot of our shoppers are older and they quite like just having a sit and a chat. The Grange shop has become somewhat of a meeting point."

The deputy chief officer hopes that the new store will bring in between £50-70,000 of income for the charity.

With that money, Mr Tomlinson hopes that Age UK will be able to employ two compass officers, who work within local communities to support older people.

"One compass officer works with around 350 older people," he said. "So the revenue could help 700 older people who are going through some kind of crisis."

Cllr Giles Archibald, who is Economic Growth, Town Centres and Small Businesses Portfolio Holder for South Lakeland District Council said that is he 'very pleased' with the news.

"This, from our perspective, is good news," said Cllr Archibald. "We are delighted that it will create new jobs, so I am very supportive."

The shop is currently undergoing renovation work but will open on June 2 at 10am.