A CHARITY is to spend £500,000 revamping its High Street site as part of its plans to grow.

TREE - Tendring Reuse and Employment Enterprise - is carrying out a major refurbishment of its shop in Clacton.

Three existing shops will be transformed into one large retail unit.

The charity will also convert the upstairs into flats to generate further income.
Chief executive Mark Penn said “The whole organisation is excited about the project.

“Not only does it offer a better retail facility for the organisation but it will also be a huge step forward in the expansion of Tree overall.”

TREE works with the long-term unemployed and people with mental health issues and learning difficulties.

It provides volunteer opportunities and has a back-to-work training programme in retail, warehousing, customer service and business admin.

The shop will be closed for about 12 weeks while the facelift is carried out
Its headquarters at the Oakwood Centre, Little Clacton, will take in more furniture during the refit.

The charity is using a warehouse at the back of Clacton's High Street Post Office for customers who cannot travel to Little Clacton.

Mr Penn added: “It is now even more important that the local community helps Tree by donating a larger number of good quality furniture and electrical items.