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

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.

Jen Graham: Bringing Charity Retail to the Mainstream

Jen Graham, known online as Charity Shop Girl, has built one of the most recognisable voices in charity retail. From viral social media content to appearances on This Morning and her role as an expert on the BBC's Shift the Thrift with Joanna Page, Jen is shining a light on the sector on a national scale. In this second part of our conversation, Jen talks to us about what actually drives people through charity shop doors, why social media is one of the most powerful and underused tools in the sector, and how mainstream visibility is changing the way people think about shopping secondhand.

Jen Graham: The Woman Behind Charity Shop Girl

Jen Graham, known online as Charity Shop Girl, has turned a lifelong love of second hand shopping into one of the most recognisable voices in charity retail. Through social media and TV appearances, she's introduced thrifting and sustainable fashion to entirely new audiences, bringing energy, personality and genuine passion to a sector she believes deserves far greater recognition. In this conversation, Jen talks to us about the changing perception of charity shops, the rise of thrifting culture, and why charity retail matters so much more than just fashion, for people, communities and the sector.