There are many advantages to buying second-hand clothes. The value for money is fantastic, it improves our environmental footprint by recycling and if you shop for bargains in a charity store, your money is going much further towards helping people in need than it does on the high street. We’ve enlisted the help of the National Council for the Blind (NCBI) store in Charleville, Co Cork, to show you just how far your money can go when it comes to picking up second-hand pieces. There are great quality items available, not to mention the fantastic bargains on offer (case in point, the silver dress (see below) which was €300 and is now €50!).
There are many advantages to buying second-hand clothes. The value for money is fantastic, it improves our environmental footprint by recycling and if you shop for bargains in a charity store, your money is going much further towards helping people in need than it does on the high street.
We’ve enlisted the help of the National Council for the Blind (NCBI) store in Charleville, Co Cork, to show you just how far your money can go when it comes to picking up second-hand pieces. There are great quality items available, not to mention the fantastic bargains on offer (case in point, the silver dress (see below) which was €300 and is now €50!).
There are over 51,000 people with impaired vision in Ireland and this number is rising. The NCBI is the national charity working for people affected by sight loss, by supporting them through services such as counselling, rehabilitation training, including independent living skills and mobility training, low-vision solutions, such as magnifiers and aids to help people to read standard print, and employment advice.
The NCBI has 96 charity shops nationwide, and store manager of Charleville, Mary O’Regan, says it’s a joy to work there: “I just love coming into work here. There is a great atmosphere, you wouldn’t find it anywhere else. I have a team of first-class volunteers and I couldn’t operate without them. The customers and the donors are so generous and keep coming back. We work very hard on building excellent relations with our customers and it makes for a lovely place for everybody to come into. We all get a great buzz out of going through the fabulous items that come in, knowing that we are playing a very big part in the overall NCBI fundraising efforts.” CL
Many thanks to the wonderful team who helped put these looks together – store manager Mary O’Regan, model Faundra O’Sullivan, and photographer Donal O’Leary.
Group picture (above right): Outside NCBI Charleville were Finbarr Roche, NCBI head of retail & property; Yvonne Cosgrave, NCBI area manager; Mary O’Regan, manager, NCBI Charleville; and Faundra O’Sullivan
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