A charity facing large funding cuts is opening its first shop so it can continue its work helping vulnerable families in the borough.

Home Start Barnet provides emotional and practical home support for hundreds of families but the organisation is facing a 30 per cent cut in funding from Barnet Council this year.

It is now preparing to open its first charity shop this weekend in East Barnet in the hope of countering its predicted financial deficit and keep the charity’s core services running.

The boutique in Church Hill Road will sell clothes, accessories and shoes and is designed to look “nothing like a charity shop”.

Fifteen volunteers have already come forward to help run the new shop and organisers are hoping to find the same number again.

Home Start Barnet CEO Kirpal Dhadda said: “It has been brewing in our minds for a long time but the funding cuts somewhat forced our hand.

“It is an exciting opportunity and we have had fantastic support from the community, as well as other voluntary organisations.

“This will be something new for us so we’ve been grateful for the help. We’re hoping to get a good feel to the shop so it embeds itself in the community, which is what we aim to do as a charity.”

A grand opening will be held at the shop on Saturday at 10am, attended by Brunswick Park councillor Andreas Tambourides and his wife, East Barnet representative, Joanna Tambourides.

Anyone interested in volunteering for the shop can contact Luci on 020 8371 0674.