A HEREFORDSHIRE disability charity has received a much-needed boost with a donation from retail giant TK Maxx.

Hereford's Old Market TK Maxx store is making a second donation to ECHO, thanks to store assistant Jade Millward.

When not working, Jade rehearses and performs with ECHO’s disability theatre company About Face.

Her enthusiasm for her work with About Face had previously led the store to donate £1,000 through their Good Causes fund.

It has been a very difficult year for ECHO which, like many charities, have soldiered on through the Covid crisis and the various lockdowns to continue to offer a valuable service to some of the county’s most vulnerable people.

About Face has been at the forefront of using technology to enable their actors, including Jade, to meet using video conferencing to rehearse, pursue projects and devise new pieces of work when they have not been able to meet in person.

Jade has continued to pass on news of About Face and their response to the pandemic to her colleagues at the Old Market store and in recognition of this, TK Maxx has followed up their initial donation with a further contribution of £500 to support their work.

About Face artistic director Jess MacKenzie said: “We were delighted with the original generous donation from TK Maxx and this latest donation has given us all a huge boost in these difficult times. The money will continue to support the ambition and skills our learning disabled actors and will greatly encourage our hard working actors, staff and volunteers.”

Examples of work produced during lockdown can be seen on the About Face website at https://www.aboutfacetheatre.co.uk/copy-of-gallery

Anyone who would like to join TK Maxx in supporting the work of About Face can do so by going to the ECHO charity giving page at www.goldengiving.com/secure/donation/echo