“Working in a Lifeline shop is a great way to meet new friends and give back to the local community.”
Lifeline New England North West North West will open a shop in the main street of Tamworth next month.
Local people will be able to buy bric-a-brac, fashion, manchester, and books to help fund Lifeline’s expanding local suicide prevention services. Shop proceeds help deliver local 13 11 14 crisis line phone support, free counselling services, as well as community suicide prevention training and support programs.
Tamworth based Lifeline shop manager Katy O'Malley is calling for donations of goods and for volunteers interested in helping at the shop.
Ms O'Malley said many people don’t realise that local Lifeline services rely on funds from its shops and community donations. She said calls to Lifeline are up 25 per cent but its revenue is down with COVID-19 restrictions closing other shops and preventing other fundraising events from going ahead.
“Our shops are vital to being able to be there for people in their time of crisis – to listen and offer hope,” Ms O’Malley said.
“Because Lifeline sells the items to raise funds, donated goods need to be saleable and in good condition,” she said.
Lifeline shops run thanks to generous support from local volunteers.
“We’d love to hear from people who want to serve or work behind the scenes in our shops – even for just a few hours a week.”
She said the shop is an important step in Lifeline’s plan to bring more suicide prevention and crisis support services to Tamworth and other parts of the New England North West. The Tamworth shop follows the opening of a shop in Armidale in September.
Lifeline offers free face-to-face and video counselling to people across the New England North West. It also runs the new Hunter New England Central Coast Primary Health Network funded AfterCare service in Tamworth to give tailored, specialist support to people who have attempted suicide.
The shop is at 329 Peel Street and will be open Monday to Saturday. It is expected to open December 13, in time to help locals with their Christmas shopping.
People wishing to donate goods or to volunteer at the shop should call Lifeline on 1300 152 854.
*The Lifeline Shop will be located in the old 'My House shop' on Peel Street.