New Salvation Army Donation Centre Writes The Next Chapter in Ipswich

A NEW-STYLE charity shop will open in Ipswich on Tuesday 22nd July 2025. The two-storey Salvation Army donation centre on the former Next site on Suffolk Retail Park, London Road, will offer an extensive retail space. The centre will become a social hub for community use and houses a community fridge, where emergency food is available without referral.

The store is accepting donations of clothing, household items, books, furniture and electrical items. All of which will be safety checked before being offered for sale. Free furniture collection is also available. The donation centre is an opportunity for local repurposing of unwanted items, which will be resold and offered at affordable prices to the local community. The site offers three hours free parking and EV charging.

According to Major Jo Todd, Associate Officer of Ipswich Citadel, the donation centre will boost The Salvation Army's ability to help people in town. "The people of Ipswich have long been very kind in offering pre-loved items for resale", she says. "So much so, that, due to lack of space, the three Salvation Army churches in the town have sometimes had to turn donation away. This has been very stressful for all concerned. The donation centre will enable The Salvation Army to accept many more offers and arrange collection or delivery of larger items where necessary. This will make the process more satisfactory for donors and enable The Salvation Army to help more people in need."

The long-term impact the centre will make in the town will depend upon the continued partnership between The Salvation Army and the people of Ipswich.

Centre Manager Julie Eveleigh said: "As well as being the go-to place for donations, the new centre will offer people the opportunity to give their time and build relationships through volunteering. Volunteering just a few hours a week can make a huge difference to our work and can be great for the volunteer's social, emotional and mental wellbeing."

The Salvation Army's Divisional Leader for Anglia, Major Howard Russell, is looking forward to the many opportunities the centre will bring. "We welcome the opening of the Ipswich donation centre", he says. "With existing centres, we have seen opportunities for volunteering, a further visible presence for pointing people towards the wider work of The Salvation Army, and amazing opportunities for missions and ministry."

The new donation centre will complement the charity's town-centre shop in Upper Brook Street, which is open for business from Monday to Saturday, 9am - 4pm.

You can keep up to date with the donation centre on Facebook: Salvation Army donation Centre Ipswich