New Prospect Hospice charity shop in Watchfield

Prospect Hospice has officially opened the doors to a new charity shop in Watchfield.

This means the charity now has 18 shops helping to raise vital funds to support local hospice care.

The new shop was opened by Swindon Town FC goalkeeper Lewis Ward, alongside Debbie Robson, a local Watchfield resident and Team Leader for Prospect@Home, Prospect Hospice’s community-based palliative care service.  

The Watchfield shop is the charity's first new charity shop in two years and its first physical presence in the area.

Its opening also supports the charity’s ambition to generate £1m through retail each year, helping to fund the vital clinical expertise, practical care and emotional support Prospect Hospice provides in people’s homes, in the community and through its hospice.

Stuart Necrews, Head of Commercial Income at Prospect Hospice, said: “We’re delighted to officially open our new shop in Watchfield and to be able to put down roots in this wonderful community.

“We’ve been caring for people across the area for many years, so having a physical presence here gives us another way to become part of and connect with the Watchfield community.

"So, it feels particularly special to now have a shop where people can come together to shop, donate, volunteer and support local hospice care.

“We’ve been thrilled by the response from the community so far, with someone even saying this was ‘the best charity shop ever!’  

"We’re hopeful that the Watchfield shop will become one of our strongest-performing stores and play an important role in helping us achieve our ambition of raising £1 million a year for the hospice.”

Despite national charity retailers struggling on the high street, Prospect Hospice has bucked the trend thanks to the support of the local community in donating high quality goods and shopping in its stores.

In 2025, Imagine Cruising gifted Prospect Hospice £30,000 towards the development of a new retail shop, helping the charity create this opportunity for another important source of income to support local patients and families.

Mr Necrews added: “The £30,000 gift from Imagine Cruising was instrumental in making this new shop possible, and we’re incredibly grateful for their ongoing support.  

"We’re so pleased that Lewis could also join us on behalf of STFC and we’re thankful for the partnership we have with them too.

"It has helped us turn an ambition into reality and ensure that every purchase, every donation and every hour volunteered helps us continue to be there for local patients and families when they need us most."

Lewis Ward said: “It’s wonderful to keep building on our relationship with the charity after supporting them as our local club charity partner last year.

"The men’s walk was a huge success, and it’s incredibly rewarding to see the impact of the funds raised. Seeing firsthand how that support is benefiting people and making a difference makes it all the more worthwhile.”

Sarah Seddon, Legal and Compliance Director at Imagine Cruising, said: “Prospect Hospice holds a very special place in the hearts of everyone at Imagine Cruising, and we're really excited to see this next chapter in its fundraising journey.

"The new Watchfield store, their 18th, will be a fantastic addition to Prospect Hospice's portfolio of shops, providing another opportunity for the local community to shop, donate and get involved.

"It's a genuine honour to support the opening with our donation and to recognise the incredible work the hospice continues to do for people and families in our community during some of life's most challenging times.”

The new shop offers a wide range of good-quality pre-loved clothing, shoes and accessories, books, toys, homeware and more, giving shoppers the chance to find something special while supporting local hospice care.

The shop can be found at 4 Majors Road, Watchfield, Swindon SN6 8TQ and is open seven days a week.  

To find out more about Prospect Hospice and its 18 charity shops, people can visit www.prospect-hospice.net  ?