As with everyone else, coming to terms with the “new normal” developing after lockdown, Safe Places found they could not return to the activities that had been planned pre-Covid.
Fund raising was still curtailed as both the Princess Royal Hospital and the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital were not allowing anyone to hold awareness days. Bucket collections in supermarkets were not being organised and tabletop sales had not restarted.
Safe Places Shropshire was not able to carry out the planned visiting days, which had to be put on hold once more.
What the team could do in the meantime was to plan what exactly was required from our new website. Ruby and Ann researched other charity websites, comparing what was available. This allowed them to prepare a skeleton outline of what was needed. There would still be a great deal of work to be done when the time came, but we felt we have done the essential groundwork.
Later in the year, car boot sales started happening around the county. In November 2021, the team took the plunge and set out their wares at Harlescott Car Boot Sale. It meant a 5.30am start to get to the site in time to display items before buyers arrived. Despite the cold and dark at that time of the day, the team was very satisfied with sales and the amount of money collected. We were also able to talk to individuals about the scheme and to hand out ‘Help’ cards. These car boot sales were to become a regular fixture in our calendar.
Donations of sale items started to come in again. Safe Places had managed to find a storage area in Shrewsbury, but it was clear that more space was needed in a more central location to allow easier access to sale goods. Ann was fortunate enough to hear of garage space being rented by Wrekin Housing Group near her home. She took possession of the keys before Christmas and started moving items into the lockup. It is far more convenient for the team.