The rise of the charity shop

The retail sector is fighting for its life. Last year, almost 50 shops closed every day across the UK and it’s a similar story this year.

But one shop is bucking the trend – the charity shop. Not only are bricks-and-mortar stores growing in number, but sales are through the roof.

For example, Oxfam’s retail income increased from £39.4m in 2020/21 to £90.3m in 2021/22, while Barnardo’s saw growth of 158% year-on-year to £78m in 2022.

And the trend is being seen across the sector. Data published by the Charity Retail Association shows that, between October-December 2022, there was a 9.1% increase in the average number of transactions per day in charity shops compared to the same period in 2021.

According to the latest figures, charity shops are now estimated to raise around £360m a year for charities, which exceeds pre-pandemic contributions.

What’s caused the surge in popularity?

There are three key factors at play:

Sustainability

The focus on sustainability has slowly been increasing for at least a decade now. And charity shops in particular have become a big part of people’s efforts to shop more sustainably. Back at the start of the pandemic, a study found that 60% of people were making more environmentally friendly or ethical purchases.

What better place to do that than at a charity shop? Especially as fast fashion is, well, falling out of fashion. People want sustainable options - such as second-hand clothes - and a good deal. Charities tick both boxes.

Cost-of-living

Charity shops are central to their local communities and one of the first places people turn to when money is tight, so it’s not surprising footfall has increased during the cost-of-living crisis, as people look to get the best value for their money.

Social Media

Social media has also played a part in the charity shop boon.

The hashtag #CharityShopHaul has amassed 217 million views on TikTok, thanks to the rise of charity shop influencers - yes, they exist - like Jen Graham. She’s built a loyal fan base of more than 70,000 followers over the last year, who love seeing her show off her charity shop hauls.

Next level

The nation’s obsession with thrift shopping has led to the emergence of initiatives that take charity shopping to the next level:

Charity superstores

Cancer Research UK and The Salvation Army have taken charity shopping to the next level by launching multi-department charity superstores. Housed in retail units left vacant by failed brands such as Debenhams, they offer everything from furniture and homeware to electricals and fashion.

Charity Supermarket

Charity Super.Mkt, - the UK’s first multi-charity fashion pop-up store, was the brainchild of Wayne Hemingway, founder of British fashion brand Red or Dead, and Maria Chenoweth, CEO of sustainable clothing charity TRAID.

The supermarket opened in Brent Cross shopping Centre in January 2022, and offered a curated selection of stylish second-hand garments, bringing together the best donated clothing sourced from 10 UK charities under one roof.

The first time that national and local charities have collaborated on a store, the proceeds were split between Age UK, Blue Cross, Cats Protection, DEBRA, Havens Hospices, Helen and Douglas House, Marie Curie, Shaw Trust, Shelter, Smart Works, Sue Ryder, Thames Hospice and TRAID.

In four weeks, the initiative raised over £300,000 and saved 11 tonnes of clothing from landfill.

Charity Shop Gift Card

In another ‘first’ for the charity sector, The Charity Retail Association (CRA) rolled out the UK’s first  Charity Shop Gift Card.

Accepted in shops run by regional and national charities in most areas of the UK, the card is made from recycled materials, and can be purchased on the CRA’s website and at participating shops, including Sainsbury's, Tesco, Boots, Asda and WHSmith.

As a social enterprise, 65% of annual profits from sales of The Charity Shop Gift Card will go to UK-based charities.

Brand/charity collaborations

There are also a growing number of collaborations between mainstream high street brands and charity shops, as corporate responsibility moves higher up the agenda for companies. 

For example, in 2017, high street clothing retailer TK Maxx staff launched a campaign called ‘Give Up Clothes for Good’.

Championed by celebrities and families living with cancer, the initiative rallies people across the UK to drop off their quality, pre-loved clothes, accessories, and homeware at collection points in all TK Maxx stores. The items are then sold in Cancer Research UK shops to raise funds to support research into children’s and young people’s cancers. 

TK Maxx customers have collected over 1.7 million bags of donated goods, amounting to more than 8800 tonnes of pre-loved items diverted from landfill.

The future is digital

Digital fundraising through online retailing is nothing new: the first online charity shop was launched by Oxfam back in 2007. But people are spending more time online than ever before. This, combined with the UK’s new-found enthusiasm for second-hand bargains, means the opportunity for charities to establish online charity shops as major digital fundraising sources has never been greater.

Looking to build up a digital fundraising team? We can help. Call us on 0203 750 3111 to find out how.

Introducing Microsoft Disability Answer Desk

Microsoft needs little introduction. The world’s largest software maker, over 1.4 billion people and businesses use Microsoft products and services globally.

The brand is best known for its Windows operating systems software, Office applications suite and the Internet Explorer web browser, but it’s also a leading provider of cloud computing services, video games, computer, and gaming hardware.

Over the years, Microsoft has been building inclusion into its products and services. Three years after launching the first version of Windows in 1985, the company introduced ‘Access Utility for Windows 2.0’ – a programme that improved the accessibility of Windows for users with hearing impairments and/or limited dexterity.

Since then, the brand has released a slew of accessible programmes, tools and products to support a wide range of needs and disabilities - the most recent being the Xbox Adaptive controller. And the latest incarnation of Windows (Windows 11) is being marketed as the ‘most accessible version of Windows yet’. 

Microsoft Disability Answer Desk

If you have a disability, you may be well-versed in Microsoft’s vast array of accessible products and tools, but did you know about their Disability Answer Desk?

If not, here’s the lowdown.

Launched in 2013 as part of the brand’s commitment to ‘bridge the disability divide’, the Answer Desk is a free resource disabled customers can use to:

• Troubleshoot issues with Windows products, tools, and accessories.

• Learn how to use Microsoft’s accessibility features.

• Ask questions about assistive technologies. 

Available 24/7, the support line is manned by a team of assistive technology experts, who undergo mandatory disability awareness, etiquette, and sensitivity training.

Fielding around 150,000 enquiries a year, they help customers with products such as Office 365, Xbox, Windows, and Skype, as well as third-party assistive technologies, such as screen readers, screen magnifiers, and speech recognition software.  

Accessibility Help and Learning Centre

In addition to the helpline, Microsoft’s Accessibility help and learning centre lists all the accessibility tools available in Windows (grouped by disability). There are also a series of simple how-to guides, explaining how to access and use each tool.

In addition to mobility, vision, hearing, and neurodiversity tools, there are guides on how to use Microsoft’s learning tools to improve your writing and reading, and their mental health tools, that can help you improve your mental focus and minimize distractions.

Final Word

If you’re confused by live captions, flummoxed by colour filters, or stumped by keyboard shortcuts, the Disability Answer Desk can help.

There are a number of ways to contact them. You can call on 0800 026 0584, or speak to them on live chat.

If you’re visually impaired, you can get support through Be My Eyes - a free app that connects blind and low-vision users with volunteers for visual assistance via a live video call. 

The power of charity PR stunts

There are just under 169,000 registered charities in the UK. In such a heavily saturated sector, how can you make your organisation stand out in a unique way without spending a fortune?

Three words. A PR stunt.

For the unfamiliar, a PR, or publicity stunt, is a disruptive marketing tactic with one simple goal – to get people talking.  

More specifically, PR stunts:

• Are short or one-off events, not long-term campaigns.

• Are interesting, original, and memorable.

• Rely on viral marketing, where people share footage of the stunt with their friends, resulting in exponential reach.

If you haven’t experimented with PR stunts, it may be worth considering, as, when they’re planned effectively, they can raise a ton of awareness, generate free column inches, and drive donations.

What does a charity PR stunt look like?

PR stunts come in various shapes and forms and aim to achieve different things.

Let’s look at a few examples.

USA for Africa
Goal: Raise awareness and boost donations

One of the first notable charity PR stunts took place in 1986. Organised by USA for Africa, the stunt, dubbed ‘Hands Across America’ aimed to raise awareness of poverty and hunger by uniting millions of Americans in a single cause: forming a human chain spanning the continental United States.

The ambitious stunt attracted 6.5 million participants, including celebrities such as Whoopi Goldberg, Jerry Seinfeld.

Former President Ronald Reagan and the White House staff even took part.

Participants donated $10 to stand in the chain, and the stunt raised a whopping $34m for the charity.

Greenpeace
Goal: Raise awareness and solicit signatures

PR stunts can also be an effective way to campaign for change.

In 2013, six female activists from global campaigning network, Greenpeace scaled London’s 1,017-foot Shard tower (without permission) to highlight Shell’s plans to drill for oil in the Arctic.

They chose the Shard as Shell’s headquarters are located near the iconic building.

The six women began their ascent in the early hours of July 11, and reached the top at around 7.10pm, at which point they attached a protest flag with the words "Save The Artic" to the building.

The stunt was broadcast live via the internet from cameras mounted on the climbers’ helmets. Greenpeace urged followers to monitor the climber’s progress via a live video link on their website, which featured pop-up boxes asking people to sign a petition and donate.

The women were arrested "on suspicion of aggravated trespass", but the stunt had the desired effect: 65,000 people signed up to support the campaign in the 24 hours following the stunt, and the live stream peaked at 13,000 viewers.

The story also trended globally on Twitter and dominated media coverage on the day.

RNIB
Goal: Raise awareness

In 2021, The Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB) opened a mock corner shop to highlight the inaccessibility of packaging by stocking the shelves with vaguely labelled products.

The "WhatsIn store" pop-up provided an insight into how it feels to be confronted with inaccessible packaging, something regularly experienced by people with sight loss.

Hidden cameras in the shop filmed shoppers' reactions to the blank or intentionally vague packaging before the shopkeeper revealed that this is the reality for people with sight loss when they’re out shopping or want to buy food on the go.

The footage was uploaded to RNIB’s social media channels, attracting thousands of views and shares. It also generated widespread media coverage.

The stunt also prompted global drinks brand Coca-Cola to release a line of accessible packaging for blind and partially sighted people.

Sanku and Choose Love
Goal: Raise awareness and funds

In 2022, surprise performance company, ClubMob took to the streets of London for a charity flashmob. (If you’re unfamiliar with the concept, a flashmob is ‘a large public gathering at which a group of people perform a seemingly random song, or dance routine, and then disperse’. Flashmobs are designed to attract attention by disrupting the normal and taking people by surprise).

The professional dancers performed a pre-choreographed routine in four high-profile locations in London, to raise money for two charities; Sanku and Choose Love.

In advance of the event, ClubMob filmed a tutorial of part of the routine, posted it online, and invited people from across the world to learn it and join them on the day. 100 people travelled to London to take part.

The stunt caused quite a stir, with large crowds of bemused passersby stopping to watch and film the performances.

The video has been viewed 320k times and the stunt raised just under £4,000, which was split between the two charities.

WaterAid
Goal: Raise Awareness and solicit signatures

In 2021, WaterAid placed four ice sculptures on the banks of the Thames, to highlight how climate change is causing fragile water sources to disappear for vulnerable communities.

The ice figures depicted people from some of the world’s poorest communities collecting water, to highlight the reality of those living on the frontline of climate change.

The stunt, which formed part of WaterAid’s ‘Our Climate Fight’ campaign, highlighted how climate change is causing fragile water sources to disappear in vulnerable communities.

The charity used it to encourage the public to sign their open letter to the UK Government, urging them to ‘invest a third of the UK’s committed international climate funding in locally-led adaptation projects, to help vulnerable communities get a reliable source of water, so they can protect themselves against the impacts of climate change’.

Looking for an experienced event fundraiser to make your next event go off with a bang? We can help. Give us a call on 0203 750 1111 or email us on info@bamboofundraising.co.uk

Disability in the workplace: Georgie’s Story

A recent study by healthcare provider Bupa found that two in five (43%) employees with a less visible disability haven’t disclosed it to their employer.

This got us thinking. Half the team at Bamboo has a disability. Have they felt comfortable enough to talk about their disabilities at work?

Let’s find out.

Here’s Georgie’s story.

What disability do you have?

My disability is called Stickler's Syndrome and I was born with it. Basically, my body is lacking in collagen. It affects my ears, eyes, nose, throat, and joints.

I was born with a cleft palate, and I had surgery to repair it three times. This is also part of the Syndrome: I had surgeries at 10 months, 13 and 16 years old. I also had facial reconstruction beginning at age 17 due to a lack of cartilage and bone in my nose.

One of my ribs was removed to build it up.

How does your disability affect you?

My ears and eyes are underdeveloped due to the lack of collagen, which means I have both visual and hearing impairments. It also causes my bones and joints to hurt. On the upside, the lack of collagen means I'm super flexible!

Also, now I'm older, a lot of my joints, such as my wrists, hips, and knees regularly pop out.

How do you manage your conditions?

I don't take medication for any of my ailments.

Have you disclosed your disabilities to employers?

My mother told me to keep quiet about my disabilities once I got into a work environment. However, I did reveal my disabilities to a former employer and regretted doing so.

Why?

I was discriminated against for my hearing impairment. My colleagues were horrible. They purposely spoke quietly around me and told me off when I didn't hear what they'd said. It dented my confidence.

What did you do about the discrimination?

Due to my lack of confidence and the health problems my family was experiencing, I didn’t hold the nursery accountable. I held my tongue, kept my head down, and got on with my job.

However, I had the opposite experience at Bamboo.

Graham (Bamboo Co-Founder) has a disability of his own and disclosed some difficulties he’s experienced, which made me feel comfortable telling him about my own. He inspired me to open up and advocate for myself.

What can employers do to support people with the same condition as you at work?

It doesn’t require a huge amount of adjustment. For me, (due to my sight issues), a games monitor is ideal, (as the screen is larger than a standard laptop screen) and a large font is a must.  

Also, due to my impaired hearing, I need people to speak loudly and clearly.

If someone discloses a disability, the team needs to have a basic understanding of the condition and how it affects the person. They also need to be patient and understanding.

What advice would you give someone with your condition when applying for jobs? Should they be open about the condition to potential employers?

I’d say be honest, and don’t let your disability define you!

Trustee Roles 101

In one of our previous blog posts, we gave you the lowdown on trustees. We looked at what a trustee is, the benefits of taking on a trustee role, and the responsibilities that come with it.

In this post, we’re going to look at:

• the composition of a charity board

• the skills and experience charities look for when recruiting board members

• the various roles you can apply for

Before we dive in, here’s a quick recap on the role of a trustee board.

A trustee is a volunteer who serves on the governing body of a charity, (known as the board of trustees.) The board has overall control of a charity and is responsible for making sure the charity does what it was set up to do.

Taking on a trustee role is a great way to help your community/a cause you care about while meeting new people and developing new skills. An invigorating and dynamic role, it puts you at the very heart of a charity and its work.

Composition of a charity board

Charity boards often comprise of 5-12 trustees. And they thrive on diversity, so charities look to recruit trustees of all ages, and from a range of backgrounds, with a variety of skills, experience, and perspectives.

Every charity is different, but most boards consist of trustees with a mix of:

• Specific professional or business skills such as finance, marketing, IT, or human resources.

• Personal, lived experience of the issues the charity focuses on.

• ‘Soft’ skills such as facilitating, teamwork, problem-solving, or even building the social side of being on a board.

• Experience working at a strategic level.

Honorary Officers

You can either apply to be a general trustee or what is known as a ‘charity’ or ‘honorary officer’. While each trustee has equal legal and financial responsibility, charity officers carry out specific duties to help the board function effectively.

Charity officer roles include a Chair, Vice Chair, Treasurer, and Secretary, and they’re usually appointed/elected by the board.

What do honorary officers do?

Every charity is different, but we’ve outlined the key responsibilities for each role to give you an idea of what’s required.

Chair

The primary role of a chair is to provide leadership to the board.

Responsibilities

• taking responsibility for the board’s composition and development

• planning and conducting board meetings

• ensuring the board is effective in setting and implementing the charity’s direction and strategy.

• supporting and supervising the chief executive and acting as a channel of communication between the board and staff

• acting as a figurehead for the charity (for example, representing it at functions, meetings, or in the press).

• leading on the development of the board and making sure that its decisions are carried out.

• taking urgent action (but not decision-making unless authorised) between board meetings when it isn’t possible or practical to hold a meeting.

Vice-chair

Some boards recruit a vice chair. In some cases, the vice-chair acts as a deputy for the chair, taking on the chair’s role when the chair is absent. In others, the vice-chair is the ‘chair in waiting’ or ‘chair designate’ and will take over the chair’s role at the end of their tenure.

Treasurer

The treasurer helps trustees carry out their financial responsibilities.

Responsibilities

• presenting financial reports to the board in a format that helps the board understand the charity’s financial position.

• advising the board on how to carry out its financial responsibilities.

• ensuring compliance with financial systems and policies.

• working with professional advisors.

• overseeing the preparation of annual accounts.

• taking on some of the day-to-day financial duties, such as book-keeping, budgeting, and preparation of reports (particularly in small charities)

In case you’re wondering, the Treasurer is not solely responsible for the charity’s finances. All the trustees are jointly responsible and should be able to understand, consider and comment on financial information.

Secretary

The role of the Secretary is to support the Chair in ensuring the smooth functioning of the board.

Responsibilities

• Liaising with the Chair to plan committee meetings.

• Ensuring meetings are effectively organised and minuted.

• Checking that agreed actions from board meetings are carried out.

• Keeping up-to-date contact details of board members.

• Keeping a record of the organisation’s activities.

• Acting as a custodian of the organisation’s governing documents.

• Ensuring elections are in line with stipulated procedures.

• Ensuring organisation’s activities are in line with its objectives.

• Ensuring charity and company law requirements are met.

• Sitting on appraisal, recruitment, and disciplinary panels, as required.

• Ensuring meetings are in person or online in line with the governing document.

• Responding to all committee correspondence.

• Preparing a report of the organisation’s activities for the Annual General Meeting.

 Interested in becoming a trustee and want some help finding the right cause and role? We can help. Give us a call on 020 3750 3111 or email info@bamboofundraising.co.uk to chat to our friendly team.