Charity shop reopens with free brews, tattoos and an upcycling competition

Homelessness charity Emmaus Bradford will announce the prize-winners of a new upcycling competition at the reopening of its flagship secondhand store by giving away free afternoon tea and temporary tattoos.

Customers on the day - Saturday, September, 25 - will receive a 20 per cent discount on all purchases to celebrate Recycling Week.

Every penny spent at Emmaus Bradford’s two shops on Sunbridge Road and Cross Lane is helping towards securing accommodation for people experiencing homelessness in the city, who will then be able to live and work with the charity.

The event, taking place between 2pm and 4pm, will take place at the charity’s city centre base on Sunbridge Road during national Recycling Week to highlight the upcycling of goods that might otherwise have ended up in landfill.

Fran Graham, retail manager at Emmaus Bradford, said: “We wanted to organise a special thank you to everyone who has supported our charity by making a donation or shopping in-store and online during successive lockdown periods. What better way to celebrate this generosity than by launching an upcycling competition and offering free brews and temporary tattoos – in true Bradford style.”

Charity judges will select the best upcycled items based on pictures shared with Emmaus Bradford on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram, using the hashtag #UpcycledEmmaus.

Anyone without access to the internet can submit their entries in-store or by emailing [email protected]. The deadline to enter the competition is midnight Thursday 23 September.

Prizes on offer are a £50 store voucher for the best portable upcycling project and £100 for the best large entry. For upcycling ideas, check out Emmaus Bradford’s social media where staff and volunteers will be releasing their top picks from within the charity’s stores.

Fran added: “Upcycling with Emmaus Bradford not only breathes new life into donated goods, but it also breathes new life into the community. By reusing furniture, homeware and clothes, you’re not just recycling items other people have given away, you’re also helping to give people with experience of homelessness a second chance.”

Over 12 months during the pandemic, Emmaus Bradford has saved 7,000 items from landfill. It plans to double this by July 2022 by inspiring the city to reduce, reuse, recycle and upcycle through an exciting range of new projects, workshops and ideas.