The students, who are in their second year studying Art & Design, spent a morning shadowing staff and learning more about the different areas within the superstore – from the busy donation centre where they sorted bags of donations, to learning top tips for getting listings ready for eBay. In the afternoon, they used their creative skills to design two magical window displays in the front of the shop.
This experience for the students was organised by St Michael’s Hospice as part of their campaign to spread awareness about the role of charity shops in the local community and to encourage younger volunteers into the charity retail sector.
Kay Rambaud, Curriculum Leader (Art & Design) at Hereford College of Arts, said,
“I thought this day was extremely well organised and so valuable for students to see what happens to clothes after their initial use… As students interested in textile design, fashion design, garment making, merchandising and marketing, it is so important to know what happens towards the end of a product’s life cycle, to influence their decisions at the beginning.”
Laura Owen, General Manager at Whitestone, added,
“It was great to be able to welcome this group to Whitestone and share the many benefits of volunteering with us, from learning new skills to being an invaluable addition to your CV or personal statement. Volunteers are our lifeblood, and we hope that through days like this we can encourage more people to donate some of their time to St Michael’s”.
