Demelza teams up with homelessness charity to provide clothing to young people
Demelza has teamed up with a youth homelessness charity to provide clothing to young people thanks to a mutual relationship with a corporate supporter.
Earlier this year, Demelza met with One Savings Bank (Kent Reliance) to find out how we could work with other charities and we were introduced to representatives from youth homelessness charity Depaul UK.
During this meeting, the concept of a pop-up shop was developed where Depaul UK’s service users could pick out clothes they could wear to job interviews and professional settings, free of charge.
The charity’s service users created mood boards to showcase the types of clothing they would like access to, and the boards were passed onto Demelza’s retail team to use as a guide while sorting donations.
An event then took place at one of DePaul UK’s night shelters in North London where around 20 young people attended and picked out clothes which suited their needs.
One Savings Bank later donated £800 to Demelza as a way of saying thank you for the clothes we supplied.
Demelza’s Deputy Director of Retail, Gemma Cruttenden, said: “We were delighted to be part of this collaboration.
“Being able to support both a valued charity and corporate partner via our shops has been great to explore how retail can be more involved in the wider opportunities we can offer, whether that's volunteer opportunities, placements or utilising unsold stock for a great cause.”
Head of Communities Impact and ESG at One Savings Bank, Jonathan Couch, said: “We were delighted to bring together our partners, Demelza and Depaul UK, to provide essential support to young homeless people.
“By offering clothing from Demelza’s shops for interviews and expert advice on CVs and interview preparation, we've empowered the young people in Depaul UK’s care to take the next step towards a brighter future. A special thanks to the Demelza team for their incredible work. We look forward to many more collaborations."
Depaul UK’s Corporate Development Manager Chrissie Reed said: “It was fantastic to collaborate with OSB Group and Demelza to deliver the pop- up shop and careers day for young people at Depaul UK.
“Events like these are so impactful for our young people, not only by providing valuable advice for their next steps into the world of work, but also by boosting their confidence in seeking the support they need.
“Thanks so much to OSB Group and Demelza for all your help in delivering such a successful event.”
"Being able to support both a valued charity and corporate partner via our shops has been great to explore how retail can be more involved in the wider opportunities we can offer."
