Havens Hospices staff and volunteers

The new Havens Hospices loyalty card

15/09/2021 12:09

CRA member Havens Hospices is encouraging its communities to shop more sustainably this autumn by buying more second-hand items from its shops.

To support this, Havens Hospices has introduced a loyalty card to be used throughout September – buy 15 items in its charity shops throughout the month and receive £5 off a next purchase in October.

Havens Hospices has 23 charity shops across Essex, which help prevent more than 1,000 tons of clothing and other materials going to landfill every year and hope the loyalty card will increase this figure.

Eany Callahan, Shop Manager at the charity’s Shoebury shops says: “By buying preloved items in your local Havens Hospices shop, you’re giving them a longer life, slowing down fast fashion, and helping to create a greener planet. By donating and shopping with us you’re helping to reuse, recycle and reduce waste that could be going to landfill.

“You are also supporting your local hospice charity which relies on the generosity and support of its communities and volunteers to provide specialist palliative nursing and supportive care to all ages across Essex, ‘Making every day count’.”

Helena Davis, Havens Hospices Shop Volunteer and a Charity Shop blogger champions second-hand shopping and is thrilled the charity has introduced a loyalty card. She said: “I was raised by prolific preloved shoppers so it’s not much of a surprise that I have become somewhat of an advocate for buying things second-hand. I encourage others to donate or sell on items they no longer want or use instead of sending them to landfill.

“Shopping second-hand isn’t just about being sustainable or eco-conscious. For some, it’s about the thrill of the find, or having a top from the 90’s that no one else has in their closet anymore, or outright just the price point. Whatever the reason, it’s great and we need to do more of it to reduce waste.

“I love finding clothes that are normally out of my price range or from a brand you can’t easily find and I think this is one of the main reasons I really got into shopping second-hand. Shopping second-hand is also a great way to support charities – when you shop, you give money to the charity and when you donate you give them the goods to sell to others to generate those imperative funds. There is something for everyone, no matter what you are looking for.”

Photo (top): Staff and volunteers at the Shoebury Asda Havens Hospices Shop with the loyalty card – Eany Callahan (right)