A charity shop celebrating its anniversary has offered the people of Huyton a cheap cup of tea and a place to "unburden their troubles" for 40 years.
The Fourth Dimension Trust charity shop has been part of the fabric of Huyton town centre for 40 years. First opened in 1981, the Ecumenical charity shop has raised over £400,000 in funds for a variety of local and Christian Aid initiatives including water projects in Mali and Ethiopia.
But some of the shop's best and most important work is also sometimes the simplest. Since it opened the little shop, found at 1 Sherborne Square, has supported anyone who's needed to "unburden their troubles".
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Enid Lodge first initiated the shop and her husband Phillip has been the chair for 20 years. Enid told the ECHO : "The shop's been helpful to a lot of people over the years. We've met lots of people who have been quite lonely and sometimes don't have anyone to talk to.
"We serve the cheapest cup of tea in Huyton and people can sit in the warm and have a conversation. We do all the usual as well - the clothes, good clothes, but always cheap, and books and video tapes. All the things that can add a bit to people's lives."
Enid said "this has always been an opportunity to provide pastoral care" outside the church. She added: "With the name Fourth Dimension we might have been a bit to clever but we thought it was a good title at the time as we have always wanted to keep looking ahead to carry on improving people's lives."
Enid acknowledged the work they do "is a drop in the ocean in the grand scheme of things" but emphasised "if you don't act locally, you can't help the world".
Enid and Phillip settled in Liverpool in 1980 after spending some years teaching and preaching around parts of Africa. It's a prominent reason why providing clean water projects in Africa has always been one of the main goals of the charity shop.
Since the shop opened they have provided 120 wells across Africa and maintained their upkeep as well. Enid said with their next projects they hope to run a number of food initiatives.
But Enid, who now lives in the city centre after moving from Roby a number of years ago, admitted with the overhead expenses it's harder than ever to continue with the shop. She said when she first started the annual rent cost them £200 but now it's soared to £18,000.
She told the ECHO : "I think it's one of the best things we've done - not having it here in the future would be really sad. I've got happy, happy memories of the shop and how it evolved and brought the churches together.
"But helping people was what the main purpose always was. And we need a whole load of new initiatives the way the world is today. I hope we can continue doing what we do - helping people who need it."
The shop will be celebrating its anniversary on July 8 at 7pm at St Agnes church in Huyton.
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