There is a version of charity shop volunteering that most people picture: sorting rails, steaming clothes, pricing donations. It is valuable work, essential, even. But it is not the only version of volunteering that makes an impact.
At SCT, we have been asking a different question: what if the skills someone has built outside the charity sector — the eye for fashion, the ability to tell a story through a phone screen, the years spent hunting down something genuinely special in a jumble of rails — could be just as impactful to us as an extra pair of hands on the shop floor?
That question led us to Aimee, the creator behind @thethriftyedit_, and the first person to join what we are quietly calling our Volunteer Creator Programme.
We caught up with Aimee during National Volunteer Week to talk charity shops, style, and why she said yes to being our first creator volunteer.
What are you most looking forward to about volunteering with SCT?
“Volunteering for a charity can look very different to traditional volunteering in charity shops. For example, this volunteer creator programme. I’m most looking forward to putting my love of thrifting and content creation to good use for such a worthwhile cause — putting a spotlight on all the amazing work SCT do supporting life beyond addiction, and showing people the good buying secondhand can do for SCT and the planet.”
What do you look for when you walk into a charity shop?
“I’ve been thrifting since I was really little, so I feel I can spot interesting colours and patterns quickly. I love curated shops with size cubes and amazing visual merchandising, but I also love ones where it’s a bit more of a jumble and you have to rummage for goodies. I’m always on the lookout for clothes made of natural materials — always a good price in charity shops. Buying secondhand has let me experiment and really find my own personal style. I’m drawn to pieces I love and feel inspired by, not just what’s trending.”
(Keep your eyes on our channels. Some of what Aimee has already spotted in our shops is going to surprise you.)
Why did this feel like the right charity to get involved with?
“SCT do such amazing work that when they asked me to be involved in the creator programme it was an easy yes. I have been very fortunate in my life to not battle addiction or homelessness. A home is such an important thing in life and I can’t imagine not having somewhere safe to go. If I can help in any small way to raise awareness and funds to support people overcome addiction and homelessness — why wouldn’t I.”
What are you most looking forward to working on with the team?
“Charity retail is such an exciting sector that the possibilities are endless. I’m really looking forward to this being a true collaborative partnership where I can use my voice and my content style to help highlight SCT and their shops. We already have some great things planned — including shopping SCT from the comfort of your sofa. I can’t wait for you to see.”
We cannot say too much. But watch this space.
What would you say to other creators who might be thinking about doing something similar?
“Paying it forward has always been something I strive for. There is room for us all to be supportive of each other — if we all lift each other up then it will help charity retail, the planet and us as content creators in the long run.”
And this is just the beginning!
Aimee is our first creator volunteer, and she will not be our last.
The Volunteer Creator Programme is built on a simple idea: that the people who walk through our doors — and the people who follow them online — are often exactly who our shops were made for. Fashion-conscious, values-led, and looking for something real to get behind.
If you are a creator, a photographer, a stylist, an artist, or someone with a skill you have been wondering how to use for good — we would love to hear from you!
DM us on Instagram at @sctshops, or email our Marketing and Communications Manager, ashleigh.gouws@sct.org.uk
SCT supports life beyond addiction and homelessness. Our shops across East London fund that work — every purchase, every donation, every volunteer.
