A CHARITY shop will now able to open its doors when the time comes after a donation from a builders merchant.

St Francis Animal Welfare in Eastleigh cares for, rehabilitates and rehomes numerous domestic animals including dogs, cats, rabbits, chickens, caged birds, various small mammals and reptiles.

The shelter planned to open a charity shop up on site earlier this year to help with fundraising, but during the first lockdown in March, a windy day ended up causing damage to the roof, and now, eight months later, it has still not opened the shop as a result.

Now though, the charity has been given hope of reopening after it won a £500 voucher to spend on materials for roof repairs through a scheme run by builders merchant, Selco.

Roof repairs are now due to take place, meaning the shop may finally be able to open at the end of the lockdown.

Helen Shaw, Shelter Manager at St Francis Animal Shelter said she didn’t think she would win the money when she applied for the Selco Stars scheme.

She said: “We are overwhelmed by this support from Selco Builders Warehouse.

“Not being able to reopen our charity shop has been a huge blow at a time when we are seeing a huge increase in the number of animals being signed over to rescue.

“We didn’t know which way to turn, but this prize means we can now go and buy the materials we need, fix the roof and start generating an income once more.”

Each month, Selco, which has a branch in Southampton, is donating £500 of building materials to two groups across the UK, with the 12 finalists going forward for a public vote for the chance to win £5,000 in cash.

A second prize of £1,250 is also available to mark Selco’s 125th anniversary.

The animal welfare shelter has now put itself forward for this prize, and if it wins, staff want to carry out further repairs on the rest of the building, including a leaking roof in a stable that is currently out of us as a result.

Carine Jessamine, marketing director at Selco, said: “This has been an incredibly difficult year for charities.

“St Francis Animal Welfare has been hit not only with enforced closure of its shop during lockdown, but also problems with a leaking roof.

“We’re delighted to help.”