Leeds Rhinos mascot Ronnie the Rhino will join charity shop social media star Jen Graham and Forget Me Not Children’s Hospice’s own Russell Bear for the opening of the charity’s first shop in Leeds.
The new store will open in Pudsey on Saturday, April 25, 2026, in the former Halifax bank building on Market Place. Forget Me Not Children’s Hospice supports babies and children with life-shortening conditions, as well as their families, across West Yorkshire. Over the past year, the charity has supported 134 children, parents, siblings and grandparents from Leeds, providing care both at Russell House in Huddersfield and in families’ own homes.
The Pudsey shop will offer a wide range of high-quality pre-loved items, including clothing, books, toys, homeware and more. To mark the opening day, the first 20 customers through the doors will receive goody bags.
Among the special guests will be Jen Graham, better known online as ‘Charity Shop Girl’, who will be sharing the rummaging and styling tips that have helped her build a following of more than 200,000 across Instagram and TikTok. She said:
“I’m so honoured and excited to join Forget Me Not Children’s Hospice for the opening of their new charity shop in Pudsey. Charity shops are my beating heart, I absolutely love encouraging others to embrace them, not only because they’re an incredible way to give pre‑loved clothes a second life but more importantly, because they support such amazing causes, in this case the incredible work that Forget Me Not Children’s Hospice do!”
Jen Graham, who appears in the new BBC series ‘Shift the Thrift’, began posting her charity shop finds on social media five years ago after being encouraged by her teenage daughter. Her videos and posts show how she styles her finds, where she bought them and how much they cost, tapping into the growing popularity of pre-loved clothing and sustainable fashion.
Her success has also led to a styling feature on ITV’s This Morning and upcoming appearances in a new BBC TV series.
Forget Me Not’s head of retail Andrea Titherington-Kay said:
“Anybody who loves their fashion will be hearing lots about fast fashion and the need for us to be more sustainable in our fashion choices. More and more people are looking to charity shops like ours as great places to do that and find unique and special items at a budget friendly price. So it’s a thrill for us to welcome Jen, a true expert in finding the style in charity shops, for the opening of our first ever shop in Leeds.
“Forget Me Not has been helping families in Leeds for many years but we haven’t had a physical presence here up until now. We hope at our grand opening we make a bit of a splash with Ronnie the Rhino and raise a bit of awareness about our work and volunteering opportunities in our new shop. Our shops are an absolutely crucial part of our income – it will cost us £7million to provide our vital support for local children and families this year, over 80% of which we have to raise through fundraising, retail and other income generating activities.
“Whether you’re donating your unwanted stuff or you’re shopping for a bargain or volunteering your time to help in the shop, you’ll be part of the amazing community that helps us support babies and children with life shortening conditions and their families.”
The new Pudsey shop marks an important milestone for Forget Me Not as it expands its retail presence into Leeds, helping to raise vital funds for children and families who rely on the hospice’s care and support.
Supporters, shoppers and families are being encouraged to visit the open day, meet Ronnie the Rhino, Russell Bear and Jen Graham, and browse the shop’s opening selection of donated goods.
For more information about Forget Me Not Children’s Hospice please visit www.forgetmenotchild.co.uk
