27/10/2026
Well, it's a sad, sad day, but the end of the Tricycle is real. We've handed the keys back and a beautiful era is over.
We had many very successful years after Markus and I started it up, together with Michelle, the manager. Initially our idea was to support Africa, but then also Kidney Care on a National level, and a different local charity each month. It reached a point where we were supporting more than 4000 people each month!
Sadly, last year there was a perfect storm, with my husband having an extreme surgery where he had 7 organs removed or partially removed (putting me into a spin), followed by Michelle (the manager since it opened in 2012) leaving, and then the next manager being inexperienced and not the right fit.
But then lovely Jo took over. She'd been assistant manager before and a volunteer before that, so knew and loved the shop. We then had difficulty finding an assistant manager for her, but finally Sonia came on board, and she was lovely and fitted the job well - alas, we found her too late!
Rachel Reeves budget had already cut into us, plus the economy with all prices going up due to wars etc, which meant that as well as our bills going up, many people who used to donate good quality donations sold them on Ebay or Vinted instead - and we had more than our share of cheap Chinese clothes! It all pointed in one direction only.
I'm saying all this in detail because I've heard some strange rumours are going round as to the reasons the shop shut, and when people don't have the facts, they fill in the gaps with their imaginations!
Now you have the sad facts. The shop was my baby, started when I saw what was going on in Africa and how just a few pounds could make a difference to so many people's lives. I invested as a volunteer full time for 4 years, until that was no longer viable for our little ship. But together with the wonderful volunteers and Michelle, the shop became a beautiful hub for the community, keeping prices not too expensive for a charity shop and a very friendly place to drop in and have a chat!
Thank you to all of you who supported us in any way, either by donating or coming in to shop! You are part of the Tricycle's success story - one that lasted 13 years until the last year when it became impossible to keep going with so much going against us. I want to thank you all very much- THANK YOU! ❤️
