Charity needs help unearthing treasures to auction online - The Rugby Observer

Charity needs help unearthing treasures to auction online

Rugby Editorial 18th Apr, 2018   0

AN INVENTIVE way of boosting a charity’s coffers by selling second-hand goods on eBay is being pioneered in Rugby – and volunteers are needed to help unearth potentially lucrative items.

Barnardo’s has opened a warehouse at the Swift Valley Industrial Estate which will act as an online hub for sales of the most valuable and unusual items donated to its hundreds of charity shops across the UK.

Donations will then be listed on online auction sites – where they could raise much more than if sold in a charity shop – to fund the charity’s work with some of the country’s most vulnerable and disadvantaged children.

Barnardo’s online operations manager Jonathan Cage said the charity decided to expand its online fundraising to provide a valuable new source of revenue.




He said: “Previously, a high-value donation would only be seen by shoppers in a single store and our local staff may have been unaware of its true worth.

“However, offering these items on sites like eBay means we now have a far larger audience, and our team has more time to look into the real value of each gift which is flagged up for our attention.


“Noteworthy online sales have included jackets, shoes, hats and handbags which have sold for hundreds of pounds – people won’t pay these prices in a charity shop, but they will if shopping online.”

The warehouse currently employs four paid staff, but this is expected to rise to more than 20 within the first year.

Volunteers can support them by researching, cleaning, repairing and photographing the donations, helping with pricing, postage and packaging, and carrying out general administrative duties.

Jonathan added: “Every hour of voluntary support will be sincerely appreciated.

“It’s a great opportunity for people of all ages and backgrounds to make new friends and learn new skills, which can sometimes help with the search for employment too.

“Working together, we’ll raise much-needed funds to transform the lives of the UK’s most vulnerable children, young people and families.”

Visit www.barnardos.org.uk/volunteering or email [email protected] for more information.

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