Mum creates second-hand clothes cupboard in her garden to help local charities

A St Helens mum of three came up with a great way of passing on all her unwanted clothes by selling them for a small fee from rails at the front of her home.

And the idea’s been so successful, Steph Rudin has now created a cupboard so she can offer cut price clothing all year round – and donate any proceeds to local charities.

Steph, 36, from Rainford, says:

“I plan to change the charity who’ll benefit every month, so one time it might be Rainford in Bloom, for instance, and the next someone else.

“Eventually if things get bigger, I’d like to sponsor a local sports team, so let’s see how it goes.”

She goes on:

“I can’t cope with so much going into landfill.

“It hurts my heart that clothing that can still be used can often end up going in the bin; it just seems wrong when there’s nothing the matter with it.

“This way I can stop that happening – and it’s my way of giving back to the community.”

Steph, who eventually wants to establish a Community Interest Company with PoppyRose Clothes Recycling, has always bought and sold clothing on sites like eBay and Vinted for herself and her family.

She says:

“I’d bought and sold second hand things for me and my eldest daughter Olivia, 13, after she was born. I used to sell her babygros and things like that.

“And it was being a mum that made me realise just how quickly you run through clothes because children soon grow out of them.

“I’d be there with a big pile of clothes and wondering what to do with it,” adds Steph, who’s married to Chris with whom she also now has Amelia, 10, and Matilda, four.

“I’d buy and sell stuff for myself and then friends and family who’d give me bags asking what I could do with those.

“And in March this year, I started doing a community rail at the front of my house … and people would leave bags of clothing on my drive, so I’d always end up with surplus.”

Steph, who works in the early years department of a nearby primary school and as a travel agent from home, started putting out boxes of men’s clothing with individual items for 50p and £1, then women’s and children’s.

In summer she put out a whole rail of children’s uniforms for free:

“And everything went,” she smiles.

“I have been surprised – and delighted – at how successful it’s been, but then people’s attitudes have changed towards wearing ‘second-hand’ or vintage. You used to show off something new and proudly say it had cost £50, now you’ll boast about how it only cost a fiver!

“And, of course, times are hard for everyone and it all helps.

“If there’s a stain on something I’ll bleach it to create a tie-dye effect and something unique, and people use the material to make teddy bears. Nothing is left or goes to waste.”

Conscious that winter is coming and she can’t leave rails out, Steph decided to build a cupboard which she’ll use to stock clothing, changing the contents weekly and alternating them between men’s, women’s and children’s: “Children’s always goes more quickly.

“I’ll let people know which it is on local community group socials and on my own Facebook page, PoppyRose Clothes Recycling, and it will operate like an honesty box.

“It’s been so easy to do, and lovely to see how popular it is with people; and I like that I can be helpful and give back to the community I live in.”