Charity launches Summer Shop Campaign with a little help from students

March 25, 2019 by Joanna

Today, 25^th March, a local charity launches their Summer Campaign across the county having collaborated with South Essex College fashion students.

Havens Hospices joined forces with South Essex College for the second year in a row to create a Summer Campaign which will count towards the students’ BA (Hons) Fashion Communication degree aims to breakdown misconceptions about charity shop fashion and highlights the quality customers can expect at a Havens Hospices Shop.

Sherry Ellis, fashion tutor at South Essex College said: “It was great for the students to be able to work on a live project such as this. They have loved sourcing and styling the clothes and were impressed with the quality of garments available at the Havens Hospices shops. Ethical and sustainable fashion is an important element of the courses we deliver so the students have been keen to support and promote the idea of reusing and repurposing while supporting a fantastic cause.”

The charity, which includes Fair Havens Hospice, Little Havens Hospice and The J’s Hospice, is also launching their Snapchat channel to coincide with the Summer Launch. They have created a special Geofilter to cover South Essex College and High Street in Southend on the 25th and 26th March. They are encouraging students from the university and shoppers to share their charity shop finds by using the filter or by tagging them and adding the hashtag #havenshopfinds. Alternatively, shoppers can share their finds with the Havens Hospices Shops on Instagram; the charity can also be found on Facebook and Twitter.

Trevor Johnson, CEO of Havens Hospices Trading Company said “I’d like to thank the students and their lecturers for their time and their efforts on this campaign. I think they’ve have done a wonderful job in showing that charity shop fashion can hold its own against the rest of the high street – they have demonstrated that you can get a new wardrobe that is worthy to be in any fashion magazine for less. 

“We’ve always prided ourselves on the quality of stock in our shops, we are incredibly lucky that our amazing supporters donate high end clothing items for us to sell. We are also now stocking new goods including handbags and accessories that change seasonally so our customers can always be on trend.

 “I hope the students’ keen eyes for fashion will inspire more people to start shopping in their local Havens shops - we’re all looking forward to seeing the outfits that our customers create.”

Havens Hospices has 23 shops that cover predominately South and Mid-Essex. The shops help raise vital funds so that the charity can be there when a family is told there is no cure for their love one’s illness and help make the journey as comfortable as possible, controlling pain and medication, offering respite and caring for adults, babies, children and teenagers at the end of their lives.

The charity can only exist because of the kindness and generosity of their supporters who raise money,  give their time as volunteers and donate saleable goods to our shops – for more information on where your local Havens Hospices’ shop is and how you can support it please visit www.havenshospices.org.uk/charityshops

For more information about fashion courses available at the College, visit www.southessex.ac.uk

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