In 2025 we began training others to run a freeshop
Maya has a dream , that every town has a Freeshop. Not only will could they help millions of people the amount of waste that will be saved from needlessly being discarded is potentially massive. There are 1,100 towns in the UK with population of over 5,000 people. Maya’s Community Support Centre is saving over 10,000 tonnes of CO2 per year by its self and creating social value of over £2.1m for the community. That is one Freeshop (The mother Freeshop). Maya set about systemising the prototype in Herne Bay (which is a fully financially sustainable Freeshop). Producing systems / procedures and training manuals to be able to take a community champion from wanting to open a Freeshop to the reality of running their own CIC (all with the support and guidance of Maya).
Ashford was the first Freeshop to sign up Training. Shortly followed by Coventry. Canterbury, Thanet and Birmingham as of April 2025 are in the process of arranging finance and looking for suitable premises.
The training involves one to one consultancy, helpline, residential job shadowing of our Mothership Freeshop in Herne Bay.
We help with Grant applications , systems, procedures, risk assessments as well covering the basics such as setting up a CIC, running board meetings, opening a bank account and much more.
Wednesday 22nd of April Ashford Freeshop is running a ‘Pop up’ Freeshop with a few clothes rails. Mirroring how Maya began with the first Freeshop in Herne Bay.
Do you have what it takes to run a Freeshop ?
Running a Freeshop is hard work but with the right support around you the community gets involved and helps make it a reality. People get a buzz from helping one another which is really amazing to see.
If you would like to know more or would like to apply to run a Freeshop please visit www.freeshops.co.uk
