Sharewear Clothing Scheme

Who we are

Sharewear Clothing Scheme is a registered charity providing free-of-charge clothing for those experiencing clothing poverty across the East Midlands.

Our purpose is improving everyday life by enabling access to free, appropriate clothing to those in need.

We know that a lack of appropriate clothing leads to isolation and exclusion from social, work and school settings. Having access to clean, well-fitting, and appropriate clothes can make a huge difference to how people perceive themselves, how they are perceived by others and their ability to join in with everyday life.

Founded in 2014 and registered as a charity in 2016  Sharewear’s impact is growing every year:

• We support thousands of people across the East Midlands and South Yorkshire with free, appropriate clothing, providing between 3-5 outfits each.  We provided clothing over 23,000 times in 2025, over 24,000 in 2024
• We work in partnership with more than 300 local organisations, including foodbanks, Job Centres, schools, social care teams, Women’s Aid services, Family Hubs, healthcare providers, and community organisations, all of whom refer individuals and families in need of clothing support.
• Through our outreach service, we provide pre-sorted clothing directly to more than 130 organisations, including hospitals, schools, crisis teams, refugee support organisations, and victim support services, enabling immediate and practical support for those in urgent need.
• We redistribute tens of thousands of items that would otherwise go to landfill, keeping good clothing in use and supporting local circularity.
• Families tell us that receiving clothing from Sharewear helps them feel more confident, more comfortable, and more able to take part in everyday life.

Our culture and values

At Sharewear, we believe clothing is about far more than staying warm or getting dressed. It’s about identity, confidence, comfort, and feeling like yourself. That’s why our approach is rooted in dignity, choice, and compassion. Every person who comes to us is welcomed with warmth and respect, and every item we offer is chosen with care.

We don’t just provide clothing — we provide good‑quality, appropriate clothing that people feel good wearing. We create a calm, shop‑like experience where people can choose the items that suit their style, their needs, and their next steps. Choice matters. It restores confidence and helps people feel in control at a time when life may feel uncertain or overwhelming.

We see ourselves as part of someone’s journey — walking alongside them as they move towards a more stable, hopeful stage in their life. Sometimes clothing is the first small step that helps someone feel ready for what comes next: a job interview, a new school term, a fresh start, or simply a day where they feel more like themselves. Our role is to support that journey with kindness, dignity, and belief in their future.

We also believe deeply in the power of clothing circularity. Every item that comes through Sharewear has a second life — kept in use, kept out of landfill, and redirected to someone who genuinely needs it. By redistributing good‑quality clothing, we reduce waste, protect the environment, and make sure the resources already in our communities stay in our communities. It’s a simple idea with a big impact: when we keep good clothing in use for longer, we support both people and the planet.

Sharewear was built with the help of a core group of volunteers who wanted to repay the generosity shown to them after receiving clothing support. Volunteering and lived experience have always been firmly embedded into our staff and volunteer community.  We currently have over 50 volunteers offering us 150 hours per week.   Approximately 40% of our onsite volunteer team were and remain clients of Sharewear.  We have also previously supported volunteers via Access to Employment Schemes and two of our current staff team gained employment with us following this route.  

Everything we do is guided by our core values: dignity, compassion, hope, and community. These values shape every conversation, every referral, every item we prepare, and every interaction wehave. They remind us that behind every request for clothing is a person with a story, a future, and the right to feel valued.

Sharewear are proud to be a Real Living Wage Employer and Partner Signatories to the Textiles 2030 Agreement by WRAP – the Waste and Resources Action Programme.

Equality, diversity and inclusion policy

Sharewear was built on fairness, dignity and lived experience. Our volunteer community includes over 50 people giving 150 hours each week, and around 40% are current or former clients, ensuring our workforce reflects the communities we support. We actively remove barriers to participation through flexible roles, a welcoming environment and a culture where lived experience is valued.

We provide clear expectations, supportive supervision and training in safeguarding and equality. We also create progression pathways: volunteers have moved into paid roles, including two staff members who joined us through Access to Employment schemes.

Across all operations, staff and volunteers work side‑by‑side, reinforcing our commitment to equal opportunity, non‑judgement and zero tolerance for discrimination. Our approach ensures everyone is treated with dignity and empowered to contribute meaningfully to our mission.