Shop Details
- 50 High Street
Malcolm Gilbertson moved to the UK from the other side of the world and now runs Oxfam’s charity store which raises thousands for people across the globe.
Oxfam
We all love being part of something that makes a difference in the world…
How did I start here?
I was an area manager for a textile company and moved to Corsham over 35 years ago as it proved a great location for my job – good for the SW, close to the motorway. But it felt so calm and welcoming I never wanted to leave. I started volunteering in the shop after walking past and seeing a poster of a boy enjoying fresh water. I grew up in South Africa, and I knew well the value of fresh water so I was sold on this cause. After a few years as a volunteer, the manager left I was invited to apply.
“We want our customers to realise that and how transformative they can be in helping others simply by shopping here…”
The shop was launched by Dr Burrows who had a surgery on the High Street and was supported by a group of volunteers from the very beginning. Those volunteers stayed loyal for decades. One of our team, Beryl, had supported the shop for over 30 years until she passed away at 97. What an asset she was. We all love being part of something that makes a difference in the world. Being part of this team feels like being part of a family.
Covid – even while awful – brought out the best of people along the High Street. We all wanted all other businesses to survive and so were checking in on each other. I think it highlighted what makes this High Street work so well. The community. The mutual support – for each other and for our customers.
We try to connect those customers to the work Oxfam does and the difference they can make - via a weekly bulletin and by showcasing projects. It’s easy to feel disconnected when you’re at such a distance from the projects you’re supporting. But shops like this one do have an impact. We’re making nearly £80,000 a year for the work of Oxfam, including £7,500 in Gift Aid. We want our customers to realise that and how transformative they can be in helping others simply by shopping here.
Related history
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