'It’s like being with family': Meet the 93-year-old volunteer who is thriving at Batley charity shop

Customers and the volunteers, including 93-year-old Betty, are encouraged, supported and feel loved.

The charity shop, managed by Tanya Fahy, is attached to Batley Salvation Army’s church and community centre on Bradford Road, which is led by Majors Carolyn and Paul Wilson, and offers a range of support and activities.

Betty, who works on Wednesday and Friday afternoons in the furniture section, first started to help when she was going through a low period in her life and her friend Jessie, a Salvation Army member, encouraged her to volunteer.

Betty, who has marked her 35th year volunteering, said: “I really enjoy it because of the familiarity and the conversations we have. It’s like being with family.

“I’m not very mobile so don’t really go out anywhere but I look forward to going to work.

"What would I do without The Salvation Army? I would sit in my chair looking out the window or put the telly on and that would be it.”

Tanya, who has managed the shop for almost a decade, says that Batley Salvation Army charity shop is the "cheapest and the best" in Yorkshire.

In recent months, they have provided items to two local families who lost everything in a house fire.

Tanya said: “If someone has a problem, our attitude is ‘let’s get it sorted’ and if we can’t sort it, let’s find someone who can.

“We had a man who was homeless at Christmas, we managed to get him into the lifehouse (Salvation Army run supported accommodation for people experiencing homelessness).

"He came back about 18 months later and said if he hadn’t had that chance he wouldn’t be where he is now.

The shop currently has 40 volunteers on the books, with a waiting list to join.

The charity shop is open Monday to Friday, 9am to 4pm, and the first Saturday of the month.

The team also collects donations and does house clearances. For more information, visit www.salvationarmy.org.uk/batley-charity-shop