GENEROUS shoppers and volunteers in Trowbridge have raised more than £10,000 for the Bath Cancer Unit Support Group.

The charity’s Trowbridge branch would like to thank everyone who visited their Christmas pop-up shop in Castle Place Shopping Centre and supported the cancer unit at Bath’s Royal United Hospital.

The amount raised is all the more impressive because of the pandemic, according to BCUSG vice-chairman Sue Oliver who is also the volunteer shop manager.

“Due to Covid, the running of the shop was of course totally different this year,” said Sue. “Goods coming in had to remain in store for 48 hours before being moved into the shop. We had to limit the number of customers and helpers at any one time and various new rules including plastic screens had to be adopted for the safety of all.

“However, what wonderful support we had from so many helpers who worked in the shop and from supporters who brought in goods for sale, and the customers who bought them and, in many cases, made a donation as well. Our grateful thanks go to all who supported us in these difficult times.

“Understandably a number of our regular helpers were shielding and could not join us this year. Our best wishes go to them all.”

Sue added that a total of £10,531 was raised during 17 days of trading and from items sold on Facebook. This compares with £11,184 raised over 28 days the previous Christmas.

Sue added: “This was a fantastic achievement. When the goods arrived at the shop this year, a number of higher value items were separated and sold on Facebook and eBay. This was very successful.”

Sue would also like to thank staff at the Castle Place Shopping Centre who provided the shop and storage space, and the team at AL Electrical who PAC-tested donated electrical goods, completely free of charge.

The BCUSG still has a number household items up for grabs on its Facebook items for sale page: https://www.facebook.com/groups/778692742964265. People are being encouraged to visit the page and pick up a bargain.

BCUSG chairman Mike Taylor is also asking Wiltshire residents to consider supporting the charity by leaving a legacy.

“We are always very grateful when a supporter remembers the charity in his or her will,” said Mike.

“We receive legacies of varying amounts but by their very nature, they are intermittent and unpredictable as we normally know nothing about them until an estate is being administered. They are a wonderful surprise whenever we receive a letter from an executor notifying us of one.

“During the last year when many of our fundraising activities have been on hold, the legacies which we have received have been a lifeline in enabling us to meet the undertakings which we have given to fund new equipment to improve the treatments of cancer patients at the RUH."

For those unfamiliar with legacies, there are two main types - a pecuniary legacy and a residual legacy. The first specifies a precise amount while a residual legacy involves allocating a proportion of your estate after other bequests have been honoured.

“Making a bequest to the BCUSG is a straightforward process and does not require a new will,” added Mike.

“A simple codicil attached to your current will avoids complication. A legacy to charity is also free from inheritance tax.

“If the beneficiaries of an estate feel that they would like to allocate a part of the value of the estate as a gift to our charity when one has not been provided in the will of the deceased, they can enter into a deed of variation within two years of their death.

"By this means the donation is deemed to be made from the estate and the appropriate inheritance tax saving can be achieved.

“Leaving a legacy is a great way to support the fantastic work of the cancer unit after you have gone. But please seek professional advice first if you if you are thinking about remembering us in your will.”

For more information, or to make a donation, please visit www.bcusg.org, email fundraising@bcusg.org or phone 07896 741233.