A POPULAR gift shop in Stonehaven which provides employment opportunities for people with learning difficulties, has re-opened with a fresh new look.
Gift Corner, on Evan Street, was previously known as Woodview Craft and Design, and has been closed for several weeks for the refurbishment.
The shop has recently been taken over by charity Cornerstone, who have entered into a partnership with Aber
deenshire Council to develop the available facilities and generate income for Cornerstone's work.
Gift Corner provides employment opportunities to 18 people with disabilities and other support needs and sells a variety of gift items and personalised embroidery products for all occasions, with many items being created in the partnering employment and training workshop.
Mark Rait, Head of Marketing and Enterprise for Cornerstone, said "Cornerstone is very pleased to be working in partnership with Aberdeenshire Council in managing and developing this valuable employment and training service for people with disabilities and other support needs.
"Over the next two years we aim to increase the number of people we support through Gift Corner and the workshop to help them gain the skills, confidence and experience needed to progress towards mainstream employment."
He added: "I believe that employment is nature's physician. That's just a fancy way of saying that work is good for us, on so many levels. It gives us self-esteem, friendships, skills, dignity. We are very passionate about this project for providing work, and all the opportunities that come with that."
Sir Robert Smith MP, who officially opened the shop last week, said: "I would like to thank all those that have made this opening possible. Gift Corner will be a great opportunity for the community to support Cornerstone's valuable employment opportunities."
He added: "The shop looks very smart and it certainly looks like it will be a very successful enterprise, building on the work that has been done already. It is great they have chosen to come to Stonehaven and recognise the importance of having something in the community here. Stonehaven has a very strong community spirit and I'm sure that the community will continue to support the shop."
Shop manager Tracey Smith said: "I am so happy that the shop is looking the way it is - it's the way we've always wanted it to look. People seem to be looking for something different and unique for a gift, and hopefully we've got that here. We've still got what we had before, but lots, lots more too!"

CHIEF Executive of Cornerstone Edel Harris (centre), with Sir Robert Smith, and Gift Corner workers Pamela Walker, Agnes Gibson and Michelle Dunbar.