It is with a heavy heart that we share the news of the closure of our Shildon charity shop after more than 35 years of dedicated service to the community.

This shop has been so much more than a retail space, it’s been a place of connection, belonging, and purpose. For many of our volunteers, customers, and supporters, it’s been a second home. And for us at Children in Distress, it has been a vital part of our mission to support vulnerable children and families in Romania.

This decision has not been made lightly. Over the past year, the shop has faced a steep decline in income, while running costs continued to rise. Despite the unwavering dedication of our incredible staff and volunteers, continuing to operate the shop would have meant risking the sustainability of our core programmes, something we simply couldn’t do.

We know this closure will feel like a deep loss to many of you, and we want you to know: we hear you and we are deeply grateful.

But the spirit of Shildon lives on. There are still many meaningful ways you can continue to support Children in Distress:

🛍 Visit our other charity shops in Guisborough or Kirkbymoorside

🎁 Take part in this year’s Shoebox Campaign

📱 Follow us on social media to keep up with upcoming campaigns

💖 Donate or sponsor a child directly via our website

From the bottom of our hearts, thank you for your loyalty and support over the decades. Though this chapter is closing, your kindness continues to write new stories of hope every day.