Founded in 2011 Sunny-sid3up is a family run Glasgow based charity shop. We have one shop in Govan Road Glasgow which sells donated goods to raise funds which are then distributed to individuals and groups. Our purpose is the prevention and relief from poverty, the advancement of education and the saving of lives, tackling projects that improve lives and communities in Scotland and overseas.
The charity provides assistance to those in need by reason of age, ill health, disability (Physical and mental disability), financial hardship or other disadvantage. We particularly partner with individuals or groups that have difficulty obtaining financial or practical assistance from elsewhere including the provision of an emergency social fund that gifts small financial amounts in crisis situations.
Our shop in Govan Road Glasgow is run and managed solely by volunteers who collect, sort and display the items for sale. We currently have 12 volunteers who gift their time, skills and expertise to the charity enabling the shop to be open from 10-4pm Monday to Saturday and for our website to be regularly updated. There are many benefits to volunteering including providing individuals with an opportunity to gain new skills and confidence, develop existing skills and helping to combat loneliness and social isolation. We work in partnership with the local job centre and community payback team to offer various volunteering opportunities and are delighted that 6 individuals have been able to use volunteering with us as a springboard to obtaining paid employment.
The shops primary function is to raise funds, but it is also a lifeline for the community by providing goods for sale at non-inflated prices compared to similar establishments. (For example, an adult could buy a full outfit including shoes for under £10) We are an open door where some customers visit daily just for a chat, share their life experiences and challenges and pop in just to see a friendly face. Govan has a strong Polish community many of whom visit us on a regular basis and Paul one of our volunteers has been learning how to say simple sentences in Polish so that members of the community feel included.
