Carol Trimbee, President of Seaford Chamber of Commerce, Peter White, Town Crier, members of the local community and Aspens’ supporters, volunteers, staff, trustees and people we support came together to celebrate the opening of Aspens’ new shop in Seaford this week.

The Town Crier announced the opening and Carol Trimbee spoke to all present about our work supporting people on the autism spectrum and with learning disabilities and wished the shop’s team the best of success, before cutting a ribbon to officially ‘open’ the shop. Guests enjoyed delicious cakes baked by our Roebuck Enterprises and a glass of bubbly to celebrate the opening. 

The new shop, located on Sutton Road, Seaford, is offering free goodie bags to its first customers. All items sold in the shop will raise funds to support our work.

The shop is selling a range of good quality upcycled furniture, homeware, books and bric-a-brac, as well as unique handmade items created by the people the charity supports. 

The handmade items are produced by people supported at our day opportunities centre, Roebuck Enterprises, in Hastings, East Sussex and include ceramics, bags and jewellery. The centre offers creative workshops to people on the autism spectrum and with learning disabilities, which encourage development and provide the skills needed to live as independently as possible.

Lorraine, who takes part in the creative sessions, said: “Coming to Roebuck makes me feel useful and that I am worth something. My favourite part is seeing people and doing the activities. Now I’m more sociable, confident and outgoing and I’ve learned lots of new skills.”

Shop manager, Jane Kupfermann, has run the previous Aspens shop in Seaford since it opened 8 years ago, and both the charity and Jane are well known by the supportive Seaford community.

Jane said: “I’m very excited to have this opportunity to relocate the Aspens shop to such a wonderful new location. This is a charity shop with a difference, selling carefully restored, pre-loved home items and fantastic pieces made by the people Aspens supports. As well as helping the environment by reducing the number of items going to landfill, every item bought will help us to provide vital support to children and adults on the autism spectrum and with learning disabilities in our community. I’m looking forward to welcoming customers - if you’re in Seaford please do pop in to see us!”