24hr Project: A Plymouth Portrait:

A behind the scenes look at  Charity Shop Volunteers

 For our 24hr project we were set the following brief:

‘There is a hidden side to the city which you need to explore and find people who engage in everyday activities. Focus on the specific genres within Press & Editorial Photography that excite you. If you enjoy sports or fashion – look at what might be available to you. We want to see a hidden side of the city that we normally would not know about. So, get searching now, telephone ahead and make things happen - Be creative in your ideas, be brave and take risks!’

Although at first I had planned to document a very different side of Plymouth I decided to look into the sudden surge in activity among the world of Charity shops, whether or not the increase in their popularity or as twitter calls it ‘trending’ is due to Macklemore’s number one hit ‘Thrift shop’ not only has the amount of charity shops on our streets changed a lot (increasing by 30% in the last five years) but the general consensus on them has changed drastically with them being labelled  with terms such as ‘Hip’, ‘vintage’ and ‘retro’.

 For this project I decided to look at the people behind these charity shops, those who give up their spare time to shovel through our donations (both the good and the bad) unearthing hidden treasures as well as common brick a brack. I present to you a small but compact typology of Plymouth Charity Shop workers. I think you’ll find from their versatility that charity shops are no longer the small, smelly shops inhabited by the old but a vibrant and booming upcoming industry where fashion meets affordability. 

St Luke's Hospice, Cornwall Street Plymouth, Volunteer and self proclaimed part of the fittings Ivy Foot. 21st January 2014

The bright and bubbly Ivy Foot greets each and every customer as they walk through the door of St Luke's Hospice charity shop, described by other members as someone who has been there forever Ivy started working for St Luke's Hospice (formally Save the Children) 25 years ago when her husband passed away.

YMCA, Cornwall Street Plymouth, Volunteer Robbie Stewart. 21st January 2014

Charity shop enthusiast and husband Robbie has been working in charity shops for six years overall, he describes it as a great place to work, with fun bosses and nice customers.

British Red Cross Heart Foundation, Cornwall Street Plymouth, Volunteer Kye Jones. 21st January 2014

Although he is not a keen Charity shop shopper, As with a lot of the current generations youth Kye has been struggling for work, so took a Job at the British Red Cross Heart Foundation to gain experience and Knowledge in the retail industry.

Peoples Dispensary for Sick Animals, Cornwall Street Plymouth, Manager Wendy Cook. 21st January 2014

Wendy has devoted her life to charity although she is a paid member of staff, she has twenty five years of experience in the industry and describes every new donation as a bag of treasure as you never know the value of what’s inside.

British Red Cross Heart Foundation, Cornwall Street Plymouth, Manager Nicky Taylor. 21st January 2014

Charity shop loving Nicky has been a manager at the British Red Cross Heart Foundation for just over a year, she has always loved working for charity and favours British Red Cross Heart Foundation as 100% of the profits go to charity.

Childrens Hospice South West, Cornwall Street Plymouth, Volunteer and Mum of two Isobelle Carriere. 21st January 2014

French national Isobelle has been working at Childrens Hospice for three months, although she doesn’t shop in Charity shops herself she describes working there as a great way to meet new people and fill up her spare time.

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Previously out of work Kirsty Kearney has been volunteering for Cancer Research for 15 months, through this time she has gained valuable experience in the retail industry. 

 John Dundridge has been volunteering for the British Red Cross Heart Foundation for 3!/2 month.

Blanche Laurence has been working in Scope for five years after being sent there to volunteer by the dole office.

Occasional charity shopper Gloria Quintrell has been volunteering at the Peoples Dispensary For Sick Animals for eight years.


ALL IMAGES ARE COPYRIGHT ELLIE HETEBRIJ PHOTOGRAPHY