"I'll Swap You" - Eynsham's Swap Shop Scheme Is Racking Up Support
With 135 people already frequenting the bi-monthly-event, it's clear to see village's commitment to sustainability is strong.
Eynsham has always boasted a thriving community, claiming itself to be “a great place to belong”, but since last year, one event has proven to have woven the community together.
Victoria Thompson (Witney Road) has found a creative way to tackle the waste from children's clothing by launching a swap shop in February 2023, with the help of her husband, Sam, and a dedicated team of volunteers.
The idea was sparked by the sheer volume of clothes that children outgrow—charity WRAP estimates that around 183 million items of children's clothing are discarded in the UK each year.
According to Kid to Kid, infants go through an average of seven clothing sizes in their first two years alone. Determined to make a difference, Victoria set up the swap shop to help families save money and reduce waste.
Victoria's swap shop is a bustling operation.
She explains, "I wanted to do something instead of just worrying about climate change and the rising cost of living for families. I’ve been so blessed with support, especially from Bump to One, a local group for new parents. They’ve backed us from day one, and I’m incredibly grateful!"
"My husband sets up after a Friday night boxing class, bringing in boxes of clothes and putting up tables," she says. "I arrive at 7 a.m. on Saturday to start sorting, and volunteers help in two shifts until 1 p.m. If we’re lucky, we’re out by then, but sometimes it takes until 3.”
So far, 135 people have joined as ‘swappers,’ meaning they have accounts at the swap shop. The process is simple: bring in children’s clothes (ages 0-10) or maternity wear, and you’ll receive tokens.
Each token can be exchanged for something new, and if you don’t find anything that day, your tokens will still be there for next time.
The swap shop runs every other month, with the next one scheduled for November 23rd at St. Leonard's Hall in Eynsham.