'Teens love bargain-hunting at our charity shops'

Charity shops say they have noticed a rise in younger customers after taking on teenage volunteers.

Alabare homeless charity, which has stores in Amesbury and Wilton, in Wiltshire, said there was an "emerging trend of young people being proud of getting a bargain and getting something second hand".

School pupil Cadi, 15, initially started volunteering with Alabare's Wilton Emporium shop for her silver Duke of Edinburgh's Award but now does it in her free time too.

She said: "I have actually bought clothes for myself [from the shop] and also gifts for my family, just because there is so much that they offer. It's great quality."

Marge Goymer, retail manager at Alabare, said the charity had made considerable efforts to cater to a younger demographic.

"We have quite a lot of younger volunteers," she said.

"They will then get their friends in and they see the type of stock that we have and it kind of gives them a passion and enthusiasm for buying second hand," she added.

As part of Cadi's volunteer work at the shop, she sorts donations, creates displays and handles the till.

She said it was "a privilege to give second-hand objects a new life" and that volunteering was "wonderful, knowing that I was giving back to the community".

Cadi added that she would now consider working in the charity sector after leaving school.

Saskia, from Swindon, is one of those young bargain hunters who like perusing charity shops.

"I feel like it's a little treasure hunt – I enjoy finding and coming across items that I never realised I needed, or wanted."

Saskia sometimes browses second-hand sites such as Vinted, but said she prefers shopping in person, "finding items naturally and organically".

"It's just items that have lived a different life, even if they are somewhat used, I like the storytelling of it," she added.

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