Bassetlaw MP Jo White visited the Aurora Wellbeing Centre in Worksop this week to see the newly refurbished Aurora Charity Shop and to thank the volunteers and local groups behind the project.
The MP shared the visit on her official page after spending time on Monday with the teams involved in the renovation, which she described as a team effort between staff, local groups and volunteers from across the community.
“I was really pleased to visit the Aurora Centre in Worksop on Monday as I joined the teams, local groups, and volunteers who have helped to renovate the Aurora Charity shop.”
— Jo White MP, Member of Parliament for Bassetlaw
About the Aurora Wellbeing Centre
The Aurora Wellbeing Centre is one of Worksop's most important community assets. Based in the historic Old Library and Museum Building in the town centre, the centre provides free support, counselling, complementary therapies and information to people living with cancer and other long-term health conditions – as well as their families and carers.
The charity was founded in 2002 and expanded into Worksop in 2011 under the leadership of Debra Fores. It became an independent Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO) in 2016. Today, Aurora operates centres in Worksop, Mexborough and Doncaster, with the Bassetlaw site also housing Valerie's Tea Room.
A £2 million community hub
The Old Library Building itself, a Grade II listed Victorian landmark on Memorial Avenue, underwent a major £2 million refurbishment after the charity secured a £1.56 million grant from the National Heritage Lottery Fund. Work began in December 2020 and the restored building reopened in September 2021 as a modern community hub with an exhibition space, café, therapy rooms and a programme of heritage activities.
What the charity shop funds
The Aurora Charity Shop plays a vital role in generating income for the charity's free services, which include:
- Emotional support and one-to-one counselling
- Complementary therapies such as reflexology and massage
- Guidance on skin care and hair loss during treatment
- Exercise, nutrition and wellbeing classes
- Groups, activities and social sessions for patients and their families
Many of Aurora's services are delivered on behalf of or in partnership with the NHS, but the charity also relies heavily on community fundraising and the income generated by its shops to cover the services that sit outside NHS contracts.
How to support Aurora
Aurora welcomes donations of good-quality clothing, books and homewares for its charity shops, and is always keen to hear from people interested in volunteering. You can learn more about the charity's services or get in touch with the Bassetlaw centre via the Aurora website at aurorawellbeing.org.uk, or follow the Aurora Wellbeing Centre Bassetlaw page on Facebook for the latest news and events.
Anyone living with cancer or a long-term health condition in Bassetlaw – or supporting someone who is – is welcome to drop in to the Worksop centre to find out how Aurora can help.
