Meet Evie, Finn, Eirinn and Lily the new faces in two of Rye’s much-loved charity shops on Cinque Ports Street: The Sunflower Shop and St Michael’s Hospice.
Whether it’s helping with displays, greeting customers, or managing donations, these young volunteers are quickly becoming essential members of the team and reshaping public perceptions in the process.
Charity shops, once seen as old-fashioned, are now becoming trendy and exciting staples on our high street. With vintage fashion, sustainable shopping, and community values front and centre, it’s no surprise that more and more young people are stepping up to be a part of the movement.
Lauren Davies, director for Youth Engagement at the Charity Retail Association and shop manager at St Michael’s Hospice in Rye, sees the transformation first-hand. “Young volunteers are key to taking charity retail to the next level,” she says. “The landscape and stigmas are changing around charity shops. People are now looking not just for a budget-friendly way to shop, but a sustainable one too and we are beginning to see a real shift in the demographic of our customers.
“Volunteering is also on the rise, with many young people keen to gain vital skills that will set them up for their working life. The presence of young people in our shops provides a fresh dynamic. They bring so much energy it’s infectious.”
Clair Debley-Turner, manager at The Sunflower Shop says: “I absolutely love seeing young customers coming into the shop – their energy and curiosity is contagious! Even more rewarding is having young volunteers on board. It’s inspiring to see their willingness to learn new skills and contribute. Watching them grow in confidence and ability is one of the most rewarding part of what we do.”
Maria Mewburn assistant manager at The Sunflower shop adds: “It’s lovely to see friendships forming between existing and younger volunteers, sharing life experiences and stories. It’s easy to underestimate young people until you see what they can achieve when given trust, purpose, and a bit of responsibility. It’s all done with energy, speed, and teamwork that would impress any retail manager.”
For the local teens the experience has been as rewarding as it is educational. Evie says:
“I enjoy being in the shop, meeting new people, hearing stories from the other volunteers, and learning new skills.”
Finn agrees: “Being in the shop has grown my confidence. I’m enjoying learning new things.”
Lily wants people to know that “volunteering is enjoyable and you get to meet new people that you wouldn’t ordinarily meet. It’s fun processing the donations and I enjoy working on the till also.”
For Eirinn “volunteering has reintroduced routine and structure to my daily life in a way that’s fulfilling and proactive. The best part about this role is meeting the customers but mainly the ones with four legs!”
St Michael’s Hospice and The Sunflower Shop are always ready to welcome new volunteers into their teams so if you have a teenager or young adult endlessly scrolling their summer holidays away pop into the shops and speak to Lauren, Clair or Maria.
The future of charity retail looks bright and it’s in very good hands.
Image Credits: Maria Mewburn .