CELEBRATIONS were afoot at the Bordon Care shop last Friday as the Bordon Charity marked its best ever year.

The charity, which is now in its 11th year, gave out more than £56,000 last year in grants to local people and organisations in need, including Headley Down Community Association, CitizensÕ Advice Bureau, Macmillan and Phyllis Tuckwell.

To mark the bumper year, MP James Arbuthnot paid a visit to the Forest Shopping Centre-based charity shop to meet volunteers, managers, trustees and directors.

During the last year, the Bordon and Liphook care shops achieved amazing increases in turnover of £59,844 and £35,452 respectively. This meant Bordon could donate £35,000 to charity and Liphook £23,000.

The charity was formed with two main objectives - to provide a source of reasonably priced clothes to those in need and to give any profits back to the community.

And the charity believes that it has met both its objectives with the help of the local community, who have either donated goods to sell, bought goods or become volunteers.

Carl Tantum, trustee and director of both shops, said: ÒWe have had an outstanding year thanks to your support. Great credit as always to Kay Green and Jill Morgan, our managers, and to the excellent volunteers who work so hard every day to help the local community.

ÒThis is a true partnership activity Ð one that works and is the envy of other towns and villages. Please continue to support us as you have done. You make the real difference.Ó

To find out more about the Bordon Charity contact Carl Tantum on 01428 712511.