A new charity shop is set to open in Gloucester city centre this spring, with local organisers now searching for volunteers to help staff the store. The shop, located on Saint Aldate Street, is being launched by National Star to raise essential funds for its work supporting young people with complex disabilities, learning difficulties, and acquired brain injuries.
The new outlet will offer a variety of goods, including clothing, books, toys, and home accessories. It will also feature a selection of ceramics and glassware handmade by students at the charity, which supports approximately 200 young people aged 16 to 25 across its various campuses.
The charity is calling for community support to help run the new site as it joins their existing network of shops across the county, including locations in Hucclecote, Abbeydale, and Brockworth. Recruitment for the shop comes at a challenging time for the broader sector; nationwide, the number of volunteers in charity shops has fallen by 24 per cent since 2019, leaving stores with an average of only 18 volunteers each.
Despite these recruitment hurdles, many shops have seen an encouraging rise in younger volunteers, reflecting a growing interest in sustainable shopping. For those looking to support the charity’s mission in Gloucester, volunteering offers a way to contribute to an organisation that serves as a vital resource for young people with disabilities throughout the region.
About this article: This story was put together with the help of AI tools and checked by a real person on our team. We're a small crew trying to cover as much of the UK as we can on a limited budget. We're getting better every day - but we're not perfect yet. If something looks off, let us know. You're part of the process.
