A CHARITY shop in Cirencester has celebrated 15 years since they first opened their doors in the town.

Hardworking fundraisers Barnardo's opened in the Bishops Walk Shopping Centre back in 2003, and it is now the charity’s longest-established store in Gloucestershire.

In the last year alone it received more than 1,600 bags of donations and more than 1,800 hours of voluntary support.

To celebrate their success and to mark their 15th anniversary, the team gathered on Tuesday, October 2, to cut a specially-decorated cake with a large ‘15’ on top.

Barnardo’s manager Tanya Stabler and her staff are supported by just four volunteers, aged from 23 to 79 years old, and she hopes the milestone anniversary will encourage even more people to lend their support.

Tanya said: “We have a fantastic team of volunteers who all work incredibly hard.

“Their efforts help to fund the charity’s work with some of the UK’s most vulnerable and disadvantaged children and young people.

“However, we know that we could achieve so much more with just a few more helping hands throughout the week.

“Volunteering is a great way to meet new people and make new friends, as well as a valuable opportunity to learn new skills and build self-confidence which can help in the search for employment.

“We have all sorts of roles available, from sorting the stock and steaming the clothes to filling the shelves and serving the customers, but everyone has lots of fun.”