Introducing SFW Hub: Newcastle

Introducing our Hub partner in Newcastle, led by the team behind St Oswald’s Hospice. We’re delighted to have a partner based in Newcastle, however St Oswald’s Hospice has a number of shops across North East England which help people when they need it the most. We chat to Caryan, who is spearheading this year’s activities.

Who is behind your organisation?

Caryan:

“St Oswald’s Hospice is a charitable hospice rooted in the North East. Our fantastic retail team helps to run our charity shops, retail events and online store, raising vital funds to ensure that we can continue to care for local people when they need us most. 

In October 2024, the Hospice opened its first Retail Hub in the Ouseburn Valley – home to our flexible event venue: The Space. At The Space, customers can discover everything from pop-up shops to workshops, art exhibitions to vintage markets, social gatherings to support groups. 

The trio behind the eclectic events at the space are none other than Caryan, Katie, and Will – all avid charity shoppers and event enthusiasts! 

Meet Caryan 

• Best charity shop find? That's so hard as 90% of my life is charity shop finds! I'd have to say my mid century coffee table with a top that flips to become a footstool. 

• Favourite type of event? I absolutely love a vintage event, whether it's clothes, furniture or bric-a-brac! 

Meet Katie 

• Best charity shop find? A few years ago I got a black vintage Gucci Tom Ford era shoulder bag from the 90s. 

• Favourite type of event? A good old-fashioned Car Boot. It’s the getting up early, the bartering, the smells, and seeing toys and clothes for sale that you had growing up; it all feels very nostalgic. 

Meet Will 

• Best charity shop find? Probably my Newcastle brown ale jumper! 

• Favourite type of event? Definitely vinyl events. 

Can you tell us a little bit of history about St Oswald’s Hospice?

St Oswald’s Hospice Retail has been bringing sustainable shopping to the North East community for over 35 years. While our charity shops have become a staple on many High Streets, we introduced our pop-up retail events 8 years ago. These events allowed us to get more from our donations, ensuring that items not re-loved in our shops had another chance to be cherished by someone new. 

 Thanks to the success of these events – and an increase in donations – we opened our own event venue, enabling us to run events throughout the year and respond quickly to a regular generous influx of stock. In 1989, we opened our very first charity shop in Newcastle city centre, called ‘Top Drawer’. Since then, our retail team has grown significantly. Almost 40 years later, we’re proud to be one of the largest charity retailers in the North East – with 25 charity shops, an eBay store, an online shop, and now a Retail Hub. 

Where are you based? 

The Hospice itself is based in Gosforth, Newcastle, but our retail presence extends far beyond North Tyneside. We have 25 shops across the North East, as well as an e-commerce store, eBay shop, and, most recently, our Retail Hub and event venue – the space – in Ouseburn. 

Do you have any guiding principles that your organisation uses? 

 When it comes to retail: Re-cycle, Re-use, Re-love. We’re passionate about sustainability and do everything we can to ensure that, wherever possible, items are given the chance to be re-loved. If an item is too worn or damaged, we’ll find a way for it to be reused or responsibly recycled. 

Are there any fun facts about you/ your team that you’d like to share? 

Last year, our sorting team worked through an incredible 85,000 bags of donated items – and that doesn’t even include those dropped directly into our 25 shops! That’s a huge number of items we’ve proudly helped to find a new home. Charity shopping isn’t just about great finds – it’s about the people who make it all possible. Over 600 dedicated volunteers and staff give their time to our shops and event venues, gaining new skills, making friends, and giving back to their local communities. We love to collaborate with creatives and other charities! This year alone, we’ve partnered with slow fashion brand Ambridge Studio, hosted mending workshops with Northumbria University, and worked with a local costume designer, supplying materials for her amazing creations. 

Have you participated in SFW before? 

 This is our first time taking part in SFW and we can’t wait to share our passion for charity retail with new and returning supporters this September 

What are your aims for taking part in SFW? 

 We want to show that shopping second-hand is a fun, affordable, and sustainable way to pick up quality, one-of-a-kind pieces – whether for your home or wardrobe. 

How would you recommend we can “Reclaim Fashion”? 

We can reclaim fashion by encouraging people to make more sustainable shopping choices. If you’ve found a fab second-hand gem in a charity shop – tell your friends and family! Sharing your finds can inspire others to shop more consciously too. 

What piece of advice would you recommend to someone trying to change their fashion habits for the better?   

Get creative with what you already own. Forget wearing things for just one season and then getting rid of them, make those favourite items last all year! You can do this by mending and upcycling pieces that are a little too worn, or by picking up some new-to-you items from your local charity shop to give your existing wardrobe a new lease of life.”

You can learn more about St Oswald’s Hospice and their work via their website and Instagram here.