Crest Waltham Forest is currently going through one of the periodic rejuvenations which are necessary for charity shops to combat entropy, donor fatigue, marginalisation and decline. The shelves of paperbacks - (40p each) - have been tidied up and some of the more hopeless books seem to have been culled; the videos have been stacked, the bric a brac has been sorted, the second hand clothes hang tidy on their racks. The air, which in the past could cloy with a sickly masking sweetness, has been refreshed, now only slightly suggestive of talc. They have made their left hand window in particular look enticing and festive.
The rather unfortunate slogan on the shop-sign 'A Local Charity Benefiting Local People', pre-dates Little Britain and is probably not intended to offend. The charity was founded by an ecumenical coalition of local churches and works befriending people with mental health problems, combats the isolation of elders with disabilities and runs an out of school childcare centre. These are inherently social issues which require local approaches and action. Photographs of the valuable work of Crest and the volunteers who engage in it can be seen displayed on the wall inside the entrance.
There is also a message board that is slightly obscured by a display of teddies and optimistically donated rolls of wallpaper. Here there is a market for second-hand wheelchairs, Meccano magazines, a knitting machine, computer, jewelry and even a car, along with advertising for GCSE Tuition, homeopathy and plastering.
Cultural announcements can sometimes be found on the front door, and presently there is an advert for Waltham Forest Street Wardens and a flier for the E17 Art Trail. Harmony Hall is available for functions.
For those who are interested in knowing more or volunteering, Crest Waltham Forest's offices are at Unit One, The Mews, 2a Truro Road, Walthamstow E17 7BY. Tel 0208 512 2975 or fax 0208 521 9553. The shop's phone number is 0208 520 6576