EALING’S favourite Christmas card retailer, the Ealing Charity Christmas Card Shop, opened its doors this week for its 37th year at the Church of Christ the Saviour, New Broadway.

The all-volunteer shop sells cards from 27 charities and is unique as it’s one of the few charity card shops where 100% of the money raised goes to charity.

Sue Green, who co-founded the shop as a stay-at-home-mum in 1985 said: "In 2020, we couldn’t open because of the COVID restrictions, though we did very well with an online catalogue.

“Thanks to our 70 incredible volunteers we're able to be back in business with a physical presence."

Among the first customers were long-time supporters Rupa Huq, MP for Ealing Central and Acton, and Stephen Pound, the retired former MP for Ealing North who officiated at the 1995 opening when he was Mayor of Ealing.

Dr Huq said: “It’s marked the start of the Christmas season for me ever since my first visit in 2015.”

Mr Pound added: “As we emerge from the dark days of COVID into the winter sunshine, where better to start the season by adding to the £800,000-worth of cards that have been sold by the Michaelmas Marvel that is the community effort behind Ealing Charity Christmas Card Shop.”

The shop has supported more than 100 charities and sold five million cards to more than 21,000 customers.

It is open 10am-4pm until December 18, Mondays to Saturdays at the Church of Christ the Saviour, New Broadway, Ealing W5.