Oaklands College is demonstrating its commitment to community engagement by partnering with local charity Help 4 the Homeless to host a special pop-up shop and donation sorting hub during the upcoming February half-term break. This collaborative initiative aims to provide practical support for people experiencing homelessness while offering an accessible community event for the public.
Accessible Community Space for Charitable Support
The college will transform the Construction Centre's open atrium event space into a welcoming community hub that will be open to the public from Wednesday through Saturday during half-term. The accessible setting has been specifically chosen to ensure the event can be enjoyed by all members of the community who wish to participate in this charitable endeavour.
Affordable Shopping with Charitable Impact
The pop-up shop will operate from 10am to 5pm each day, offering good-quality second-hand clothing, shoes and toiletries at affordable prices. Every purchase made at the shop will directly support Help 4 the Homeless and their vital work with people experiencing homelessness in the local area. This initiative provides community members with an opportunity to access quality items while contributing to an important cause.
Comprehensive Donation Management System
Donated items will be brought onto the college campus where volunteers will carefully sort and organise everything before the shop opens. The sorting and clear-down activities will run from Saturday, February 14 through to Sunday, February 22, ensuring all donated items are properly organised during the event and efficiently removed afterwards. This systematic approach guarantees that the charity receives maximum benefit from community donations.
College Community Engagement Opportunities
The project will be primarily run by Help 4 the Homeless volunteers, with Oaklands College staff present on site throughout the event to provide support and coordination. College staff and students will also have valuable opportunities to volunteer their time and contribute to this meaningful community initiative, fostering a spirit of social responsibility within the educational institution.
Educational and Community Benefits
Vieri Wickes, Commercial Development Manager at Oaklands College, emphasised the multiple benefits of this initiative: "This project provides a practical way to support a local charity while engaging staff, students and the wider community during the half-term period. It creates valuable learning opportunities about social issues while making a tangible difference to people's lives."
The pop-up shop represents a significant community partnership that combines charitable support with educational engagement, demonstrating how educational institutions can play an active role in addressing local social challenges while bringing communities together for a common cause.
