Pregnancy Choice Centre opens new opp shop and cafe

The Pregnancy Choice Centre is expanding, opening up a big opp shop and cafe in the church next door. Pictured are Rachel Ohlson, Melissa Kell and Janice Tetley-Jones. Photo/George Novak

An organisation helping women through unexpected pregnancies is expanding.

The Pregnancy Choice Centre opened its new Graced Opp Shop and Espresso Bar on Monday, which the not-for-profit organisation hopes will help it become self-sufficient.

Centre director Janice Tetley-Jones said the centre decided to expand its opp shop and open an espresso bar in the old church next door.

This also meant there was a lot of parking for shoppers, something she hoped would attract more people.

"Even though the opp shop was successful where it was, we were conscious we were missing people that perhaps wouldn't go into a pregnancy centre, particularly men.

"We needed to expand to meet the costs of running the Pregnancy Choice Centre and we were given the opportunity to move into the church building. We were so excited about that because of the massive space."

Mrs Tetley-Jones said aside from the new additions, it was still business as usual at the centre, which remained in the same location.

The space where the opp shop used to be would become a kind of boutique shopping area with handcrafted soaps, artwork and handmade jewellery.

Mrs Tetley-Jones hoped the cafe and opp shop space would become a community place where people could come, hang out and talk to someone if they needed.

"It was a bit of a different approach. We wanted a fresh initiative, an opp shop with a difference, combined with a play room for children, a cafe and the shop.

"We also wanted it to be a community place, a place where the community can come. They can come and chat to us, whatever. We can refer people in need to different places."

Mrs Tetley-Jones said bigger premises meant the opp shop could take larger items such as furniture, which would help with funding for the centre.

When based at the centre, the opp shop sold mostly clothes and Mrs Tetley-Jones said at $2 or $3 an item, they needed to sell a lot of clothes to make ends meet.

The new, expanded premises opened on Monday and Mrs Tetley-Jones said even with no advertising, its first day went well with lots of people stopping by.

Pregnancy Choice Centre

- Opened in October, 2013.

- Features counselling, an opportunity shop and espresso bar, parenting classes and support for women unprepared for motherhood.

- The free clinic also provides information about the choices of keeping the baby, abortion and adoption, and helps pregnant women make decisions without outside pressure.