The Charity Shop Chat

Voices From the Charity Retail Conference 2026: Stronger Together

In this special conference edition of Charity Shop Chat, Charlotte is joined by guest co host Hannah Weet from the Charity Retail Association for a whistle stop tour of this year's CRA Conference. Rather than one guest, this episode brings together a whole range of voices from across the sector, delegates, speakers, and exhibitors, sharing their favourite sessions, biggest takeaways, and best ideas from the last two days. Whether you were at the conference with us, listening back afterwards, or couldn't make it this year, tune in for a flavour of the energy, ideas, and conversations shaping charity retail in 2026, and plenty of inspiration to take back to your own shop. The Charity Shop Chat podcast is powered by the Charity Retail Consultancy.

CRA Chief Executive Robin Osterley: A Decade of Charity Retail Leadership

As Robin Osterley OBE prepares to retire as Chief Executive of the Charity Retail Association, we reflect on a defining chapter in charity retail leadership. In this special episode of Charity Shop Chat, Robin looks back on his years representing thousands of charity shops across the UK, from advocating on business rates and regulation to strengthening benchmarking and professional standards. We explore the sector's evolution and the challenges that still remain in the sector. Robin also shares what he's most proud of, what he thinks his successor will inherit, and why, even as costs rise and AI looms on the horizon, the people who work and volunteer in this sector remain its greatest strength. This is a conversation about leadership and the responsibility of shaping a sector that supports communities and plays a vital role in the circular economy. It is a thoughtful look at what has been achieved, and what comes next. Thank you, Robin, for your decade of dedication. All of us at the CRC wish you a very well earned retirement.

Catriona and Louise: Building a Charity Shop That Puts Community First

This week on Charity Shop Chat, we're joined by Catriona from Hope Kitchen and Louise , shop coordinator at Restore, for an inspiring look at what happens when a group of local people in Oban, Scotland come together to rethink what a charity shop can be. We discuss the community led model behind Restore, how reuse, repair and skills building sit alongside affordable shopping, the realities of running a multi partner social enterprise, and why this kind of collaborative, people first approach feels so relevant for the future of charity retail.

Julia Edwards and Anna Pashley: The Charity Retail Conference Everyone Will Be Talking About

This week on Charity Shop Chat, we're joined by Julia Edwards and Anna Pashley from the Charity Retail Association for a preview of this year's CRA Conference. We discuss the biggest themes shaping charity retail, what delegates can expect from this year's programme, the value of workshop learning streams and why the conference remains such an important opportunity for networking, inspiration and sector learning.

Tacha, Hannah and Gareth: Pay What You Feel Initiative and Community Centred Retail

In this episode, Charlotte sits down with Tacha, Hannah, and Gareth from Ethical Boutique and the Safe Foundation in Cardiff, to explore how a charity shop can become a genuine hub for its community. From pay what you feel baskets that make the shop accessible to everyone and their in store café creates a place where people come to connect. Their approach puts people firmly at the centre of everything they do. Together, they share the stories behind their work, from supporting marginalised communities internationally to providing free training and volunteer opportunities closer to home. Tacha, Hannah, and Gareth talk openly about what it means to create a space where everyone feels welcome, and how that sense of belonging translates into real impact for the Safe Foundation's mission.