New seasons
Rachel’s introduction to the charity shop was spurred on by changes in her own life – and during her two decades working there, she’s witnessed plenty of changes in her customers’ lives too.
“In 2002, I’d been at home with young children for a few years,” Rachel explains. “But when they went to school, I felt like I needed to do something with my time. Somebody suggested volunteering as a means of gaining a bit of confidence to go back into the workplace – but I loved volunteering here so much that I stayed!
“I’m the longest serving staff member here, and I’ve seen so many people come and go in that time. There are customers who have been coming into the charity shop ever since I first started. They’ve become friends. Some of them would bring their babies in when they visited, and then the next thing you know, those babies have grown, left home and had babies of their own.”
Talking about the passing years, Rachel’s thoughts can’t help but turn to the older people supported by Age UK services, which charity shop sales help to fund.
“We’re all going to get old, and people are living so much longer now than they ever did. But that can bring a lot of additional problems,” she says. “There can be a lot of loneliness, I think. Having older neighbours, I’ve realised that’s one of the biggest issues for older people.
“So, Age UK’s telephone friendship service is a wonderful thing. For a lot of people, their telephone friend can be the only person they speak to week by week.”
Aware of the difference her work is making, Rachel has no plans to leave Age UK’s Tamworth store any time soon. In fact, Rachel’s eager for her presence at the shop to continue for many more decades – perhaps even beyond her lifetime. “I’ve been here so long that I want to have my ashes scattered here!” she laughs. “People think I’m joking… but I’m really not.”