On Thursday 12th February, St Catherine’s Hospice celebrated the official launch of its new flagship superstore in Crawley town centre, marking a major milestone in community fundraising and engagement. Hundreds of dedicated volunteers transformed the former Sainsbury’s building into a vibrant 8,500 sq ft community retail space, offering everything from bridal gowns and prom dresses to books, golf clubs, furniture, clothing and more.
At the launch event, Clive Hilton spoke with Giles Tomsett (CEO), Philip Ingleby (Chair of Trustees) and Paula McGoveney (Income Generation & Marketing Director) about the remarkable success of the store in its first three weeks of trading. Thanks to overwhelming local support, thousands of donated items were received, with over 15,200 items sold in just the first few days, generating well over £50k in vital funds for hospice inpatient & outpatient care.
The conversations highlighted the charity’s ambitions for 2026, the ongoing need for sustainable funding, and upcoming community fundraising events including the much-loved Midnight Walk in June, Lego & Fire Walking on 6th March, and other ways the public can continue to support the essential work of St Catherine’s Hospice.
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