Will antiques experts strike gold at Lucky Seventh CHYP valuation event?

CIRENCESTER residents are being urged to raid their lofts and trawl through their garages to help young people who don’t have a home.

Experts from Moore Allen & Innocent will be offering an antiques valuation service at a shop run by the charity Cirencester Housing for Young People (CHYP) to raise much-needed funds for the project later this month.

For a donation of £3 per item – or two items for a fiver – Philip Allwood and his team will tell antiques owners more about their heirlooms and collectables, and more importantly how much they might be worth.

It is the seventh year that Moore Allen & Innocent has run a valuation day for the charity.

Auctioneers will be hoping to repeat some recent CHYP valuation event successes: last year, two wood carvings by the renowned South African artist Lucky Sibiya were valued at £3,000 to £5,000.

The previous year a painting bought at a charity shop for £4 was identified as an original cubist watercolour by the Georgian contemporary artist Zaza Tuschmalischvili, and valued at £300 to £500.

Philip – well known from appearances on TV shows including Bargain Hunt, Antiques Road Trip, Dickinson’s Real Deal, Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is, and Cash in the Attic – said: “We’re delighted to once again be able to support this very worthwhile local charity.

“Our valuation day gives members of the public access to our team of experts for a small donation to CHYP.

“Whether or not they’re sitting on a small fortune, antiques owners tell us they find the experience entertaining and informative.”

CHYP runs two houses in Cirencester for homeless young people between the ages of 16 and 25. It can cater for 11 young people at a time, and helps around 30 youngsters a year.

The young people are helped with all aspects of their lives, from learning how to cook and wash their clothes to identifying educational, training and employment opportunities.

The charity aims to get its young clients back on their feet, with the security of a job and accommodation of their own.

The valuation event takes place at The CHYP Shop, 20 The Waterloo, Cirencester GL7 2PY between 3pm and 7pm on Tuesday, June 27.

The event is part of CHYP Awareness Week, which runs from June 26 to 29. Other events include a Ladies Fashion Show and Pop Up Shop at the Royal Agricultural University, a cake sale hosted by Alison Fielden & Co solicitors, and a street collection.

For more information about any of the events, visit www.chypthecharity.org.uk

To find out more about valuation services from Moore Allen & Innocent, go to mooreallen.co.uk