A NETWORK of charity shops in Carlisle and Penrith has come under new management with hopes to expand the network further.

OpShops in Harraby, Morton, and Penrith are now being run by a new charity, Restore Cumbria, which hopes to rejuvenate the communities in the county.

For the last ten years, the OpShops were run by the Diocese of Carlisle.

Jon Greenwood, business manager of Restore Cumbria, said: “Our hope is that we can help restore hope, faith and happiness in each community where we operate.

“We reopened our shops a week ago and look forward to welcoming back our volunteers and customers.”

Restore Cumbria is hoping to expand the network of OpShops in the area by working with local faith communities.

It also aims for the OpShops to be a community hub in these areas offering affordable, good-quality items and a safe, welcoming place to chat.

The new board of trustees took over yesterday, and a full rebranding is expected to take place later this month.

The OpShops are looking for volunteers to help out in the shop and for donations of clean clothes, furniture, and household items.