Norwich Christian bookshop appeals for help

A successful Norwich Christian bookshop which aims to get Christian books into the hBooksPlusPeople09ands of patients and visitors at the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital is urgently appealing for storage space and for more volunteers.
 
Books Plus Norwich is part of a Christian charity called Light on the Mount Trust and has run a regular monthly book and gift shop at the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital since 2003.
 
Chairman Frank Tucker said: “The aim is to provide an attractive, encouraging and caring retail outlet of Christian literature and related goods at the hospital and through this enhance the caring environment provided by the hospital for patients, visitors and staff.
 
“Not being able to secure a full-time retail outlet such as at Cardiff and Gloucester hospitals, due to the lack of retail spaces, it has been possible to rent two and a half consecutive days a month, a space which is open to other traders in the East Out-patients Dept.”
 
Run entirely by volunteers from local churches, the venture has achieved its purpose as Christian literature is nearly always the second best-selling section and last December was top. To help pay the rent, bargain books and stationery, cards, Tearcraft goods and Naxos records are also sold. Many customers use the prayer box and their prayer requests are shared with the Chaplaincy team.
 
FrankTuckerWebWhilst success has been achieved gradually in meeting the purpose of presenting the public at large with the Gospel, a problem has arisen regarding 'off site' storage.
 
Frank explained: “The generosity, over six years, of a firm run by Christians in providing free space in their rented storage container has to finish by the end of March. Bearing in mind the small profit margin that would be eroded by paying rent for a commercial unit, Books Plus is asking the Christian community if there is any spare storage available in places such as church halls. The need is for a dry, secure space 8'x8'x 6.5' high which would be accessible during reasonable hours and preferably located on the western side of Norwich.”
 
To find out more about the work, or if you are able to offer storage facilities, please contact Frank Tucker at jfranktucker@tiscali.co.uk

 

By courtesy Network Norwich and Norfolk