UCLan fashion sales aid children’s charity

13 May 2018

Lecturer’s pop-up stalls have raised more than £3,000 for Newlife

A fashion lecturer from the University of Central Lancashire (UCLan) has used her eye for styling to raise more than £3,000 for charity.

Fashion promotion with styling lecturer Nicola Palmer has raised £3,270 over the last six months for Newlife, the charity for disabled children, through a variety of pop-up fashion stalls.

Nicola began working with the charity last November when her students organised a fashion show. Newlife, which works with more than 150 retailers to sell on surplus stock for charitable purposes, gave the students jewellery to sell at the event, which generated £400.

Nicola said: “Everything spiralled from the fashion show and since then I’ve organised several pop-up shop events for staff and students, selling clothes and jewellery that Newlife has obtained from retailers with all profit going straight back into the charity.

"It’s a great feeling to know you’re helping a great cause and also, being from the fashion department, we’re doing what we love. Everyone keeps asking me when the next event is."

Newlife runs the only emergency equipment loan service in the UK, providing disabled and terminally ill children at high risk of injury or worse need with essential items such as wheelchairs, beds and other specialist equipment. Retailers from all over the country work with the charity, donating surplus stock including clothing, jewellery and furniture that is sold on to raise vital funds.

Jane Harries, fundraising and volunteer manager for Newlife in the North West, said: “Nicola has raised a huge amount of money in a short space of time, it’s fantastic. The money she has generated will change the lives of a family by providing them with the essential equipment they need.”

Nicola added: “We’ve already held five events for Newlife and I’m looking forward to seeing where this great relationship will take me and the UCLan fashion department in the future.”