THE A WORLD TO OPEN A NEW STORE AT THE CONCOURSE CENTRE

A not-for-profit group that provides a range of services to the autistic community is opening a store at The Concourse Centre, Skelmersdale, to raise essential funds.

The A World has agreed a lease for unit 11 and is undertaking fit out, with the aim of opening at the end of May.

The store will sell a wide range of goods, from clothing and jewellery to kitchen ware, bric a brac and toys.

Brad Thorpe, managing director of the organisation, which is a community interest company (CIC), said the Concourse store will be its 14th to open in the north of England.

"We are thrilled that The A World UK is expanding into new areas, which will allow us the capacity to offer our services to a wider autism community in Skelmersdale and are delighted to be able to give back to the community via offering our funded family holidays to even more autistic people," he said.

"We would like to ask all of those in the community to support us where they can to donate clothes and household items. Information on our services and donations can be found on our website www.theaworlduk.com."

The CIC will welcome as many volunteers as it can to help run the store and it has also created two jobs at The Concourse.

Welcoming The A World to the shopping centre, Rob Ellis, asset manager at LCP, the national commercial property and investment company that manages the centre, said: "The organisation provides a wide range of services, so we hope it raises as much money as possible to help families and know the generous Skelmersdale community will  support the new shop."

The A World's opening hours will be: Monday-Saturday 9:30am-5pm, and Sundays 10am-4pm.