CREST community store will be coming to Colwyn Bay high street.

Recycling social enterprise Crest Co-operative in Llandudno Junction, will bring life back to an empty shop unit on Station Road. Crest Community Store is set to open on February 4 and will feature low cost nearly new children’s clothing, second-hand nursery goods, adults’ clothing, brand new furniture, children’s toys/games and much more.

All proceeds from the shop will be ploughed back into Crest to create work opportunities for adults with learning disabilities and the unemployed.

Sharon Jones, chief executive of non-profit company Crest Co-operative, said: “We are delighted to announce the opening of Crest Community Store in Colwyn Bay. We have always wanted to bring Crest to the high-street.

“Opening a new shop will benefit the whole community. Nearly new goods will be offered at low prices and the income generated will create work placements for the unemployed and adults with learning disabilities.”

Mochdre based construction company G Purchase marked the season of goodwill by generously carrying out repair work and fitting units at the new store. Workers from the firm completed the work free of charge.

Earlier this year Crest Co-operative was awarded the Conwy County Borough Council contract to collect textiles from the homes of more than 50, 000 residents. Quality clothing will be sold to the public at low prices in the new Colwyn Bay store.

Sharon Jones added: “We think that Colwyn Bay is a fantastic place to open a new business and hope to work with other stores in the town to continue to attract shoppers to the high-street.

Crest Community Store will open at 21 Station Road. If you would like to apply for the position of store manager or supervisor visit http://crestcooperative.co.uk/jobs.

FUND-RAISING students held a Christmas hamper raffle to support FareShare North Wales.

The pupils from Bangor University have raised £3, 000 for four non-profit projects/charities since their term started in September. From leg waxing to nights of student fundraising, the generous team at Bangor Rag will be generating funds throughout the academic year.

FareShare North Wales was established last year, in a bid to combat food poverty. The project was launched by Crest Co-operative and has since helped to feed hundreds of homeless and vulnerable people across Conwy and Denbighshire.

Surplus, quality food is donated by food suppliers and distributed to community groups, supporting disadvantaged people. The project has created work placements for the unemployed, adults with learning disabilities and volunteers.

BRIGHT purple textile banks will help residents to turn their unwanted clothing into jobs for Conwy’s unemployed.

Crest Co-operative’s Purple Bank Appeal has been launched in a bid to increase the amount of job opportunities available to the unemployed and adults with learning disabilities.

Staff at Crest

This week non-profit recycling social enterprise Crest in Llandudno Junction, sited 16 new eye-catching textile banks at locations across the Conwy county.
Earlier this year Crest won the Conwy County Borough Council agreement to collect textiles from local residents. The successful purple bag kerbside collection scheme, has already created work placements for Conwy and Denbighshire residents. It is hoped that Crest’s Purple Bank Appeal will generate additional funds to combat unemployment.

Textiles collected will be sold at Crest Community Store, Ferry Farm Road Llandudno Junction. All funds are ploughed back into Crest to create jobs. Unwanted textiles including shoes, clothes and handbags can be deposited in Crest’s purple banks.

Sharon Jones, director at Crest Co-operative, said: “This is great news for local unemployed people. The Purple Bank Appeal will allow us to generate funds to offer further work placements and training at Crest.

“We have already helped hundreds of local people back into work. This would not be possible without the continued support of local residents,” she added.

Schools across Conwy have already benefited from Crest’s services. Blue textile banks have been placed on school grounds and in rural communities, with Crest donating £200 to each school for every tonne of clothing collected. 

The Bay View Centre in Colwyn Bay welcomed Crest’s purple bank this week. Other textile banks have been sited at Berthes Road car park in Old Colwyn, Station Road car park in Llanfairfechan and many other locations.

To find your nearest textile recycling bank click here.