"Being creative is a fundamental need for all of us - it is the means by which we know we exist"

The Cathja shops

In July 2020, just as Covid lockdown was easing, we opened our Friends of Cathja shop at Watermans Park, opposite the junction of Brentford High Street and Ealing Road (and McDonalds). Due to lack of footfall (it wasn't even on the road) we had to close it end Oct 2020.

Our previous charity shop and community hub at the well known Moores Cycles site in Isleworth opened in June 2019. Unfortunately it had to close, to make way for a re-development, on 31st January 2020. Shop boss Rin said "we thank everyone for their kind and generous donations which help us raise valuable income to run The Cathja Project as well as helping the planet by recycling!"

Our 129 Brentford High Street shop opened in 2016 and was a great success. As well as raising funds for Cathja it became a real community resource with workshops covering sewing and other activities. Due to the big Ballymore Waterside development we had to move out by Christmas 2018.

Connect Foundation for Mental Health is the sister charity of Friends of Cathja.

The shops provide a vital contribution towards the costs of the Cathja service. They are staffed entirely by volunteers and rely upon donations of saleable goods. Unlike most other charity shops, the high volunteer input means that the maximum possible amount of money raised goes directly to helping people in need of our service.

We always need more volunteers, even if just for an hour or two each week. We provide limitless tea and coffee, good company and a chance to meet new people whilst helping a local cause. Please contact one of our shops if you are able to help.

We are also pleased to receive goods for sale. Health and Safety regulations mean that we cannot accept electrical goods and have to be very selective with toys and baby clothing.

Contact details are:

Shepperton:
Roseann Connolly
68 High Street
Shepperton TW17 9AU
Tel: 01932 254736 weekdays

Walton on Thames:
Jill Dady
4 Church Street
Walton on Thames KT12 2QS
Tel: 01932 231959 weekdays