World Jewish Relief is hoping to raise £30,000 via a new high-end charity shop selling second-hand designer goods.

The charity has launched the ‘Designer Goods Boutique’ this week with an appeal to supporters to donate their luxury cast-offs to the new Neasden store in London.

WJR joins other charity retailers with high-end second-hand shops, including British Red Cross and the Rainbow Trust Children’s Charity.

Funds raised from the store, which will be both open to the public and aims to also attract professional buyers, will go towards funding the training and education of single mothers in the former Soviet Union. WJR is promoting the new shop to its supporters via email and direct mail, and will be launching a social media competition in the next few weeks to attract a wider audience.

Charity shops have proven a strong income source during the economic downturn, with the latest Charity Shops Survey finding shop income and profits both at record highs, with charity shops overseeing turnover of £716.4m in the year 2011/12.

While only just launching, WJR expects the Designer Goods Boutique to become a fixture in its fundraising mix.