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 Amy Lamé introduces this brand new series from the Community Channel showing you how to bag more than just a bargain from your local charity shop, and inspiring you to make a difference and get involved. The programme gives lots of information about working for a charity shop, introduces the nation’s ‘chazzers’ who enjoy nothing more than scouring local charity shops for the next hidden bargain, and gets top tips from fashion guru John Scott (ITV’s This Morning). Don’t miss your opportunity to watch ‘Charity Chic’ right here on your Community Channel.
Maria Chenoweth, CEO of the country’s trendiest charity shop chain TRAID, joins Amy in the studio to discuss the concept behind this unique venture and the programmes they help to support. TRAID stands for Textile Recycling for Aid and International Development and was started in 1999 as an alternative to the more traditional style of high street charity shops. Today they have over 700 clothing banks across London and the North, using the money to fund overseas development projects and recycling schemes. In another unique twist to the standard model, TRAID actually redesign many garments using donated textiles to create brand new clothes which are then sold on in their own outlets or other shops across the country.
Fashion expert John Scott shows a willing volunteer how to get chic on the cheap for less by dressing them in clothes from charity shops - and the result is fabulous!
 We also meet chazzer (charity-shopper) Abigail, who guides us through some of her best bargains including an amazing array of handbags and belts, all found whilst rummaging through local charity shops. Abigail says, "I have been shopping in charity shops for years, and years, and years now. It was originally because clothes would be a better fit for me ‘cause I’m quite tall and skinny, and I just liked the cut of the things I could get in charity shops."
Meet Bill and David, charity shop volunteers from Teeside who have found a new lease of life by joining the team at their local ‘Home Start’ branch. Both Bill and David have Multiple Sclerosis but have found that working for the shop has given them a new sense of purpose and motivation. Bill Duckling says, "Working in a charity shop has transformed my life because it’s taken me out of my house and into the big wide world. It’s introduced me to new people, new friends and people who are pleasant, nice, kind and want to look after me and David, help us and encourage us to continue being the people we are."
 David is paralysed down his left side and Bill down his right, but by working together as a team they are able to fully compliment one another’s abilities. They have become a popular pair within the local community, affectionately nicknamed ‘Ant and Dec’ and receiving regular deliveries of home-cooked food from grateful customers. David explains why he decided to work in the shop, saying: "I’ve been disabled with Multiple Sclerosis since 1984 and I just felt as if I needed something to do. It’s made a massive difference to my life for the simple fact that I’m not turning into something awful because I’m not sitting at home all day long."
Long-time chazzer, Maddie, shows off her collection of vintage dresses and fake-furs collected during one of her regular visits to the high street charity shops. Maddie describes the elation of stumbling across another bargain find: "There’s nothing that compares with the thrill of going into a charity shop, finding something and seeing the price tag of like £2.50... it’s like ‘hooray!’ and it really makes your day."
‘Charity Chic’ gives a much-needed showcase to the nation’s charity shops that not only provide a vital income for numerous charities, but also provide affordable alternatives to the high street boutiques. This four-part series is guaranteed to turn even the most die-hard boutiquer into a fully-fledged chazzer!
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Last Updated ( Friday, 03 March 2006 )
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