The Lions Club of Sidmouth has made a £700 donation to the Samaritans shop on the town’s High Street, just in time for a major refurbishment in the new year.  

The shop - a former bank - was opened as a fundraising opportunity for the Exeter, Mid & East Devon branch of Samaritans 18 months ago. It has become a natural hub for the community as well as a source of funds for the charity, and the area behind the shop has been turned into a free gallery for local artists to display paintings, photographs, mosaics and other work. 

Now the shop is to undergo a facelift to create an activity room and a space for face-to-face meetings with Samaritans, while retaining the art gallery and the busy shop area selling pre-loved clothes, books, decorations and household items. 

Sidmouth Lions had recently arranged for a speaker from Samaritans to attend one of their meetings and felt it was a really worthwhile charity to help, adding it to the many other charities that the Lions Club donates money to each year from the proceeds of its fundraising activities. 

Lions president Graham Rossiter, accompanied by Lions Ian Skinner, Mike Sycamore and Chris Rignall, presented the cheque for £700 to Shirley Reeves, a Sidmouth volunteer in the shop, and Mel Whittock, the director of the Samaritans Exeter, Mid & East Devon branch. 

Mel said: “The shop has been an extraordinary success story, because it’s become such an integral part of the community.  

“Of course it’s helped raise funds - which are vital, because our entire operation relies on donations - but the shop has also become part of the fabric of Sidmouth. It’s not just another charity shop, but somewhere local people want to visit, where volunteers want to work, and where artists want to exhibit.” 

The Lions Club of Sidmouth, which has recently made donations to other good causes including Ukrainian Refugees, Gateway Homeless Action and Hospiscare, is now hoping that its Great Duck Derby on Sunday, October 16 will raise significant funds for the nominated charities Children’s Hospice South West and Devon Freewheelers.