Hope Foundation shop

The Hope Foundation Trust is run in Bexhill by Derek Peterson who has been working towards building a drug and alcohol rehabilitation centre which will also support HIV/AIDs victims in the village of Pearsonmun near Lamka, Manipur.

Derek said: "We have already been given a 2 acre piece of land and in December of 2007 we purchased a stretch of land in order to build an access road to the site.

"On January 15 we laid the foundation stone, and now the real work begins in order to raise the necessary finance to take the next step toward the Project being built.

"The initial phase of the work will cost around 45,000 and the whole project will come out at approximately 250,000."

"This is where the Hope Foundation Shop comes in. Initially it started out as just a 'good idea'...The shop is situated at 25 Sea Road - next door to the old Grand Hotel site."

He is in the process of organising the opening ceremony on April 12 at 10am, but understands The Rev. David Frost, vicar of St Stephens, will be attending in his role as Chair of Churches Together in Bexhill.

Derek added: "Currently we have a number of volunteers from the congregations of Beulah and Sidley Baptist Churches to work in the shop, but we would welcome more help - if anyone wishes to volunteer, you can call in at the shop between 10am and 1pm on Tues , Wed April 9 and Thu April 10 and have a chat with the Manager.

"We are also looking for good quality items that we can sell in the shop - if anyone wants to make a donation contact Derek Peterson on 07778390598."