Most industries have been hit hard by the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic – with thousands of businesses mothballing and many others shutting down for good.
But one of the sectors that’s suffered the most – yet rarely talked about – is Manchester’s charity shops.
Rolling nationwide closures and changing legislation made traditional fundraising increasingly, as footfall in charity stores fell dramatically throughout 2020.
With a third national lockdown now in force, Manchester’s local charity venues have been forced to get creative in order to stay afloat.
Chapter Six MCR
RSPCA Manchester & Salford is a perfect case in point.
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This animal care organisation overcame the closure of their physical store by launching Chapter Six – an online platform that offers a new way to shop from a local charity.
“We have always dreamed of having an online presence for our retail side,” says the charity.
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“With reduced footfall in our charity shops due to COVID-19 restrictions we have finally been able to dedicate time and resources to making this dream a reality.”
There are some absolute bargains available on the site, too, including products from household names such as Next, Monsoon and Zara, just to name a few.
It’s a platform that lets you fuel your love of sustainable fashion while raising funds to rehabilitate animals. Ideal.
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As RSPCA Manchester & Salford rightly said: “Where else can you buy a dress and know that the proceeds will buy food for an animal in need?”
While this website was launched as an alternative to the physical charity shop experience, it has actually been a creative and successful way to raise money for rehabilitating animals.
“Having our own website gives us a great opportunity to reach more people, and it cuts out any fees paid to third party selling sites that we’ve used in the past,” said the RSPCA team.
“This means that 100% of the money we make goes directly towards the rehabilitation and rehoming of animals in our care!”
Another local charity that has been forced to adopt new methods during the pandemic is Barnardo’s Vintage in Cheadle – the charity’s only vintage and retro shop.
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Despite not having an online platform or postal service available to them, the store has continued to use their social media to promote sustainable style during the lockdown.
“We set up a photo shoot … so customers could see how vintage pieces could work with their high street capsule wardrobes”, says Gemma, the manager of Barnardo’s Vintage.
Although this has helped to raise awareness for the charity and its vintage finds, the combination of the store being closed and the loss of footfall from the usually bustling high street has been incredibly difficult.
Every charity is feeling the pinch – and the sector needs all the help it can get.
“In all honesty, our charity is struggling to keep its head above water”, says a representative for RSPCA Manchester & Salford, who reported that they ran at a loss of £50K, despite receiving help from the government.
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“The fundraising the shops do is vital in keeping our animal centre up and running, and if things continue as they are we don’t know where we’ll be this time next year.
“This is why it’s so important that people continue to spend money with their chosen charity online, or that they donate through any fundraising pages the charities have set up.”
You can visit the likes of RSPCA and Barnado’s online and make a donation to help. Every penny makes a difference.
Style
There’s a studio in Manchester with welded jewellery and a build-your-own-necklace charm bar
Daisy Jackson
An independent jewellery studio in Manchester is tapping into the welded jewellery craze, offering customisable permanent bracelets, necklaces and loads more.
Aureli is the brainchild of Georgina Dunn, and as well as these increasingly popular welded pieces, is offering a charm bar where Mancs can build their own charm jewellery.
The studio is tucked away on Chapel Street, a stone’s throw from Manchester city centre.
Inside the space, you’ll find shelves full of different chains, from dainty links to chunkier rope styles, all available in gold, silver, rose gold or even mixed metal – you choose your poison.
These can then be cut to measure and welded to your person, either as a bracelet, an anklet, a ring or a hand chain.
You can add in tiny charms, like letters, birth stones, and symbols, for a piece of jewellery that’s truly unique to you and that will stay with you.
Terrified of commitment and getting a piece of jewellery literally welded to your body? No stress – Georgina can also add on tiny clasps so that you can take your treasure off whenever you like.
And for fans of chunkier, more statement pieces, you can also book a workshop in the Aureli charm bar.
Georgina fitting a welded braceletGeorgina Dunn, owner of AureliYou can have welded anklets tooAureli offers welded jewellery in ManchesterYou can customise your welded jewellery at the studio in ManchesterSome of the chains on offer at AureliThe charm bar at AureliThe beautiful Aureli studio in Manchester
Here, there are hundreds of playful charms to pick from, like enamel-coated colourful fruit, metal cowboy boots, cherubs, hearts, pearls, and LOADS more.
Georgina can then talk you through the process of hand-fixing each charm to your chosen piece of jewellery, whether you’ve gone for a chunky necklace, a bracelet, or a phone charm.
Georgina has a fashion background and says: “I always knew I wanted my own brand, I just didn’t feel like clothing was the right choice.
“I’d always made my own jewellery as a hobby and had a friend who’d seen permanent jewellery in Australia – so decided to bring that concept to Manchester.”
Two years ago, she started trading at The Makers Market around Greater Manchester, while still working full-time as a teacher.
Aureli absolutely took off, and she’s now appeared in Vogue magazine as well as at events for brands like Sephora and BPerfect.
Aureli is located on Chapel Street in Salford and you can find out more HERE.
Unknown Mortal Orchestra announce Manchester gig among just a handful of UK dates on European tour
Danny Jones
One of our favourite live acts we’ve ever seen is coming back to Manchester as Unknown Mortal Orchestra are set for a stunning return to the city – and at one of our most beloved venues, no less.
The New Zealand psychedelia-infused rock and indie outfit may not be on everyone’s radar just yet, but the genre-bending outfit is comfortably up there with some of the best we’ve ever had the privilege of seeing in the flesh.
Currently based in Portland, Oregon, in the States, Unknown Mortal Orchestra (UMO) is fronted by multi-instrumentalist and visionary experimentalist producer, Ruban Nielson, who first began the project on his own over a decade and a half ago.
Closer to a three-piece these days, you won’t find many bands that boast a collection of such varied and talented musicians, and they’re heading to Albert Hall.
As detailed by Albert Hall themselves, this show is also just one among a very small handful of dates here in the UK as part of their run of shows across Europe.
Other shows include one on the night following their Manchester gig over in Yorkshire, which our friends at The Sheff will no doubt be buzzing about, as well as on opening night at Barrowland in Glasgow ahead of a four-show residency in London.
Dubbing their work as nothing short of “psychedelic mastery” (we couldn’t agree more), the iconic live music space will be welcoming them early next year after landing on the mainland continent.
Other stops on the 2026 Unknown Mortal Orchestra European tour include Lithuania, Latvia and Poland; Germany, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Holland, Belgium and Paris.
Now consisting of Nielsen, bassist Jacob Portait, and often Ruban’s brother as well as fellow singer-songwriter, musician and engineer, Kody Neilson – also known for his work with The Mint Chicks, Opossom, Silicone and more – all of whom are as talented in the studio as they are on stage.
They also happen to have one of our favourite Tiny Desks of all time.
Sorry, but this HAS to be up in there in the top 10.
The London residency already looks to be in high demand, so you can bet their only date here in Manchester and at a venue like Albert Hall will sell out extremely fast.
As well as an entirely instrumental outing earlier this year, UMO also dropped their latest EP entitled CURSE back in June, and it’s fair to say it’s some of the most ‘out-there’ material to date.
If you haven’t listened to it yet and are just expecting more art-poppy indie bops like ‘Hunnybee’, you couldn’t be more wrong…
Unknown Mortal Orchestra play the Albert Hall in Manchester on Friday, 27 March, and you can get ready to grab your tickets right HERE.