Chest Heart & Stroke Scotland Opens Its First Bookshop in Trongate 

Chest Heart & Stroke Scotland has opened its doors to its newest shop in Glasgow’s Trongate. 

The site, a ground-floor unit in the Tontine Building, is the charity’s first dedicated bookshop and community space.  

It is one of the first projects to receive a £20,000 grant from Glasgow City Council’s Meanwhile Use Fund which aims to revitalise the city centre. The shop has created two jobs and a range of volunteering opportunities. 

Funds raised at the store will help Chest Heart & Stroke Scotland support the one in five people across Scotland living with a chest, heart or stroke condition or Long Covid. 

Billy Farrell, Director of Income Generation at Chest Heart & Stroke Scotland, said: “We offer brilliant, pre-loved, books for people to enjoy and it’s also a great way for people to come together and support Scotland’s largest national health charity. 

“The bookshop is a great space for people to meet, have a coffee, and come together as part of the community in a relaxed and welcoming setting. 

“It’s also a great chance for someone with unwanted books to declutter with purpose. Your donation of books can help change lives and help someone rebuild their life after a chest, heart or stroke condition and Long Covid. 

“We’re on the lookout for potential volunteers to get in touch. Whether you have an hour a day or an hour a week we have a variety of opportunities available. 

“By donating, volunteering and shopping at our Trongate bookshop, you’re helping us to support the 1 in 5 people across Scotland who have one of our conditions. 

“Our retail shops are a vital way in which we can help make sure people have the right support, in the right place at the right time. 

“We can’t wait to meet the people in the local area.” 

 The new unit is on the lookout for volunteers and donations of unwanted books. Anyone with donations can bring them to the store seven days a week from 10am to 5pm 16 Trongate, Glasgow, G1 5ES. 

By donating and shopping at CHSS stores, local people can help fund the vital services that people with chest, heart and stroke conditions rely on.   

Chest Heart & Stroke Scotland is committed to reaching 150,000 people living with its conditions across Scotland by 2028 through its Community Healthcare Support Services.      

To find out more about our shops please go to www.chss.org.uk/supportus/shops.  

If you’re living with the effects of a chest, heart or stroke condition or Long Covid and looking for advice and information, please contact Chest Heart & Stroke Scotland’s Advice Line on 0808 801 0899. You can also text ADVICE to 66777 or email adviceline@chss.org.uk.