This year, five Oxfam shops in St Albans and Harpenden helped Hertfordshire raise more than £1million to support the charity’s work around the world.

The shops, along with nine others across the county, raised funds that will go towards Oxfam’s projects tackling poverty around the world.

Whether responding to emergencies like the recent hurricane in Haiti, supporting Syrian families with clean water, helping farmers grow drought resistant seeds or funding programmes to prevent violence towards women and girls, the charity relies on funds raised in its shops to support its work.

Natacha Terrot, Oxfam area manager for Hertfordshire, said: “I am so proud of our volunteers and staff, and would like to say a huge thank you to the public who have supported us so generously.

“It's a challenging time on the high street at the moment, so we are grateful for every quality donation that can help us raise money for Oxfam's work."

According to the charity, we are currently living in a time when more people – almost 60 million - are displaced from their homes than at any time since the Second World War.

She said: “Oxfam is helping hundreds of thousands of people who have had to flee their homes due to conflict. For example, in Syria, Jordan and Lebanon we are providing life-saving clean water, sanitation, shelter and food for families who have lost everything.

“The need is enormous and I feel so proud knowing that our shops in Hertfordshire are raising funds to help make the difference in the lives of so many people."                                                                  

Ms Terrot says that Oxfam shops need volunteers and donations to help the charity raise crucial funds for its work to end extreme poverty and suffering around the world.