Dorset charity Prama opens its first ever superstore shop

Prama, a which specialises in helping elderly people, opened the doors to its 10th store and first superstore in Westover Retail Park, in Castle Lane on Tuesday, February 14. 

Bosses for the charity, which has branches all around Dorset, said the opening is a “big step” as it looks to raise funds for elderly people and carers across the county. 

Prama chief executive Steve Robinson said: “This is a big next step for us; we have a number of smaller shops in the area, but this is the largest to date. 

“What we are finding is that the generosity of the local community has been overwhelming.  

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“The joy of all this stock is that it is given locally and used locally, converted into cash and we then use that to run over 60 clubs in the area. 

“It’s very much the essence of what charity should be about: local people helping local people.” 

The shop, located in the former Dreams unit, sells a range of clothes, furniture, books, CDs and other things. 

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Arron Head, retail operations manager at Prama, said: “This is the first shop we have done on this scale, but we wanted to take the leap as everybody is watching their cost of living, people are donating more and people are using charity shops more. 

“We have set pricing. All of our tops are £3, all our dresses are £4 and all our coats are £5. 

“Prama has been around for 40 years and all the money goes back into the local community.” 

Cllr Dave Kelsey, deputy mayor of Bournemouth, officially opened the store before nearly 100 eager shoppers.  

He said: “We are in a cash crisis at the moment, so now older people can come in and spend less and even meet like-minded people. 

“Recycling and reusing are the things right now; charities have places of their own now and they’re no longer seen as second-class citizen places.”