A HUMANITARIAN charity has battled rising energy prices and short-term leases on the high street, but by consolidating stock in Tunbridge Wells, it is managing to continue sending aid to refugees.
RefugEase, which was founded in Rusthall in 2015, has two shops in Tunbridge Wells, on Mount Pleasant Road and Royal Victoria Place (RVP), but has had to be adaptable, said the charity’s managing director Valentina Osborn.
“You may have noticed our shops popping up and down all over town. Whilst this is the nature of our model, unfortunately since the energy price hikes, we were forced to close some of our stores from Monday to Wednesday.”
However, with leases running out at some of its other shops in the South East, RefugEase has consolidated stock in its Tunbridge Wells shops, and is extending opening days, she told the Times.
The charity’s Vintage Emporium on Mount Pleasant will now stock books, bric-a-brac and affordable household items, alongside furniture, and will now be open seven days a week.
“Our clothing shop in Royal Victoria Place also remains open, selling curated clothing – high street, vintage and luxury brands,” added Valentina.
“We need to keep our funds coming in to [support] our frontline evacuations and emergency aid delivery programmes.”
RefugEase helps refugees in locations across Europe and the Middle East.
Valentina said: “We are still delivering emergency humanitarian aid every day on the frontlines in Ukraine, but are also focusing on building hydroponic self-reliant farming systems in Syria.”
RefugEase is on Instagram: @refugease
