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Suffolk family charity says eBay is now a vital funding source

Jon Wright/BBC Mel Miller with a child's red dressJon Wright/BBC
Volunteer Mel Miller adds a child's red dress to the charity's eBay site

A stuffed alligator head, a £600 cricket bat and a vintage rocking horse are all helping raise money for a charity via its online auctions.

Families Together Suffolk has a traditional shop in Eye but said its Stowmarket "eBay hub" was now vital.

"We have nearly 2,000 items currently online, sending out 70 parcels a week," said hub manager Rebecca McLean.

The money funds work connecting volunteers with families and running support groups.

Overall income for the parenting charity last year was £788,000, of which £151,000 was listed as "other trading activities".

Business manager Angela Dennis said: "We started our first charity shop in 2017.

"After the pandemic, we had to diversify, creating the eBay hub in 2020, which generates approximately 30% of [that trading activity]."

Jon Wright/BBC Rebecca McLean puts a dress on a mannequinJon Wright/BBC
Manager Rebecca McLean helps photograph clothing before it is added to eBay

Volunteer Gail Jolliffe opened the donations box which contained an alligator head.

"I think somebody else hadn't wanted to do it! But I was quite happy to touch it and put it on the site," she said.

"You never know what you're going to find each week."

Jon Wright/BBC An old rocking horse for a childJon Wright/BBC
A vintage rocking horse is currently waiting to listed online

The charity's eBay page shows it has sold more than 11,000 items and has a 100% positive-feedback score.

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