Charity Shops

The Choose2Reuse Campaign is encouraging people to think about both giving to and buying from second-hand shops. Your Rubbish Your Choice visited a couple of Norfolk charity shops to see what sorts of things they had on their shelves

At the Sue Ryder shop in Earlham House, Norwich, people are eagerly
browsing through the books and measuring pieces of furniture. This is one of the charity's busiest shops in the county and customers of all ages and backgrounds stop in to rummage through the stock, looking for second-hand bargains.

"We will take almost any item that is in a saleable condition," said manager Sue Furse.

Sue Furse at the Sue Ryder shop in Earlham House, Norwich.

"We sell large pieces of furniture, small electrical items (kettles, toasters etc because we can test them), clothes, shoes, toys, tapes and books. They don't have to be as new but they shouldn't be too damaged."

Much of what is here could well have ended up in landfill sites if it hadn't been given to the shop. Yet, said Sue, by bagging it up and bringing it along, everyone wins.

"The items aren't thrown away, we gain funds for the charity and our customers have the chance to buy things much more cheaply than if they had bought them new," said Sue.

Peter Harvey, 42, from Norwich, is a regular customer at the shop.

"I come in once a week or so to look through the books," he said.

"I often find something I like and it doesn't usually cost more than £1.

"I enjoy reading reference books and history books about Norfolk - buying them new would cost 10 times as much."

Many charity shops across Norfolk hold door-to-door collections for items. Others rely on people bringing bags in or are happy for them to phone and ask for large goods to be picked up.

One of the biggest sorting centres for charity items is the Oxfam shop on Magdalen Street, in Norwich. Here more than 50 volunteers work with manager Ros Myhill to sort the tonnes and tonnes of clothing, books and other bric-abrac in order to stock the large shop or to send it on to Oxfam's smaller stores.

"We are always extremely busy here," said Ros.

"The shop is divided into different departments and in each we have an expert who oversees what happens there."

Above the shop, there are rails and rails of good quality clothing - evening wear, next season's items, children's clothes and even fancy
dress pieces are all carefully sorted and stored.

Piles of books, records and ornaments are examined closely and anything that looks potentially valuable is researched to see if it can be sold to generate a better than expected sum.

"Throughout the year we have special displays," explained Ros.

"For example, after Christmas we always get a lot of unwanted gift packs (soaps, bubble baths etc). These are stored and then brought out before Mother's Day."

Like all charity shops, Oxfam asks for items that are in a good condition - but if damaged clothing does slip through, it is recycled to make rags or stuffing.

"Everything that comes in here is either sold by Oxfam, sent abroad for use in developing countries or recycled another way," said Ros.

"Nothing is thrown away."

Downstairs, the shop is packed with people examining jewellery, trying on clothes and looking through children's toys.

Jo Austin, 26, comes in three times a week.

"I tend to be looking for clothes although I have looked at sofas in the past as well," she said.

"This is a great place to find designer labels."

Jo recently bought a leather jacket for just £6. It could well have cost more than £100 new.

"I like the fact that I'm finding bargains and at the same time I am giving to charity," she explained.

Susan Clarke, 44, comes in most weeks as well. She buys clothes for the family and books. Then when she's finished with the items, she gives them back to the shop.

"I started off coming here because it was a cheap way of buying things," she said.

"Now I do have a bit more money but I still come in because I like the idea that everything is being recycled."

The benefits of using charity shops:

• Waste is minimised and landfill space is saved

• Energy and raw material use is reduced as new products are not being made

• Waste handling and disposal costs are less

• An income is generated for charities and other social groups

• You can help those who need reused items, for example, community organisations and members of the public

• You will save money if you Choose2Reuse

The Sue Ryder shop at Earlham House, Norwich, is open from 9am to
5pm, from Monday to Saturday. For more information about collections and acceptable items call (01603) 503111.
www.choose2reuse.org.uk

The Oxfam shop on Magdalen Street, Norwich, is open from 9am to 5pm, from Monday to Saturday. For more information about collections and acceptable items call (01603) 665508.
www.charityshops.org.uk