ST JOHN’S Hospice are taking a new approach to raise funds to keep their care services going.

Due to the current restrictions the Hospice’s charity shops located in Kendal, Morecambe and Lancaster have all been closed.

The charity is now using their time in lockdown to expand their online shopping platforms, from bolstering eBay sales to selling via Facebook.

These changes in the methods of selling aim to make up for lost income for the Hospice, as well as provide more economical and environmentally friendly shopping options.

Sophie Lea, Head of Retail at St John’s Hospice said “We get a lot of great, unusual items donated to our shops - that could be a unique item of clothing, a really fun gift or a characterful piece of furniture.

“People like to shop with us to express their individuality and find things you can’t find anywhere else, all while being more environmentally conscious.”

Catherine Butterworth, Director of Income Generation said “We rely on our charity shops to provide vital income for the Hospice, and after having to cancel most of our big fundraisers this year, shutting the shops again could be a big financial blow.

“Adapting to e-commerce provides a lot of great benefits, not just to us, but to the local area, and we’re hopeful that we can support the wonderful community around us as much as they support us – but we're still looking forward to re-opening our physical shops!”

St John’s Hospice’s eBay page can be found at ebay.co.uk/str/stjohnshospice.