New-U opens in Castle Quarter as part of Talent Match, Prince’s Trust (now King’s Trust) project. creating opportunities for young people through sustainable fashion and community support.
New-U Enterprises evolved from a group of unemployed young people participating in an employability project who wanted to do something to help those in need. They were keen to offer free clothing to anyone needing smart attire who could not afford to buy new items.
The idea of having a permanent clothing outlet on the high street soon followed as an addition to the smart clothes loan scheme in response to many donations from the general public and businesses wanting to put pre-loved items of clothing back into circulation as wearable garments.
On 26th Nov 2018 New-U Enterprises was formally established as an independent not-for-profit company, allowing the organisation to grow its vision and community impact.
Our first sale was hosted in the Forum however it proved so popular that we make it a regular event. From June 2019, New-U launched its much-loved monthly £1 sale in the Honesty Library, just around the corner from our permanent shop.
What started as a way to help manage limited stock space quickly became a vital fundraising activity for the charity, while also providing affordable seasonal clothing for the community.
Today, the £1 sale is still going strong. Each month, around 400–500 items find new homes, helping reduce textile waste and support the community — and unbelievably, everything is still just £1.
These sales, alongside our other fundraising events, continue to play an important role in supporting New-U’s ongoing work within the community. Find out when our next is on here
We are officially granted UK charitable status on 5th Dec 2019. Formally recognising New-U’s commitment to supporting people, sustainability, and the local community.
Our Registered Charity number is: 1186761
Our mission: New- U provides support to long term unemployed people via meaningful work experience opportunities in a clothes and accessories swap shop. We provide individualised support to increase confidence, self-esteem and skills to move towards work, training or volunteering. We encourage the wider public to re-use textiles and reduce waste.
You can find our charity commission registration page with full details here: NEW-U ENTERPRISES LTD – 1186761
During the COVID pandemic New-U shop temporarily closed its doors. However, support for the community continued through:
- Online employability workshops
- Remote engagement activities
- The launch of the New-U “Mystery Bundle” initiative — 5 items of clothing for £5, carefully selected based on customer preferences and posted nationwide
This innovative project helped people access affordable fashion while staying connected during lockdowns and providing vital income to help keep New-U going. After nearly a year of lockdowns we were final able to reopen on 13th April 2021.
Originally established by the Castle Quarter Management Team, New-U took over the management and running of the Honesty Library.
With support from Castle Quarter various funding partners we continue to develop and improve the space transforming it into a welcoming community space for people to enjoy. It became a vibrant hub for New-U events, creative workshops, and wider community activity.
New-U opened a second shop in Cromer, bringing affordable fashion and work placement opportunities to communities in North Norfolk.
The project was funded for 12 months, with the aim of supporting North Norfolk communities to recover from the social and economic impacts of the pandemic.
As well as providing quality, affordable clothing, the shop offered work placement opportunities, creating valuable experiences for people to gain confidence, develop skills, and access employability support.
The shop closed 23 December 2022 however, New-U remains active in the Cromer community, working in partnership with organisations such as Merchant’s Place and the community centre to run pop-up sales and upcycling activities. You can find out about our regular Friendship hub which takes place at the Cromer Community Centre each Wed and Fri here.
Read more about the shop here: New-U Store Open In Cromer
As New-U continued to grow, some donated clothing was unfortunately no longer wearable. Staying committed to our mission of reducing textile waste, we began looking for alternative ways to reuse these fabrics rather than seeing them burned or sent to landfill.
In September 2022, we launched a series of rag rug taster sessions, using damaged clothing and traditional rag rugging techniques to create rugs and cushions.
This marked the beginning of New-U’s creative upcycling activities, encouraging people to reuse textiles in imaginative and sustainable ways. Since then, the project has continued to grow, expanding into a wide range of upcycling crafts and creative workshops.
Today, we offer a variety of upcycling activities through our regular Craft & Connect sessions held in the Honesty Library, as well as workshops and activities delivered in communities, schools, and at local events. We also provide private workshops for groups looking for creative, sustainable, and engaging activity ideas.
You can explore your current upcycling offers here: Upcycling Activities – New-U
As one door closed, another opened… Following an incredible year in Cromer, New-U launched a new affordable clothing shop at The Charles Burrell Centre in Thetford. This a six-month project helping make low-cost clothing more accessible to the local community.
Thanks to funding from the National Lottery Awards for All, second-hand clothing was available from as little as 10p–£5, helping support families during the cost-of-living crisis.
The shop opened every Tuesday from 4pm–8pm and Thursday from 9am–1pm, providing affordable fashion alongside a welcoming community space.
Building on the connections made during our time in Cromer, New-U partnered with the Cromer Community Centre to establish a warm space offering a welcoming and safe place where anyone could go to keep warm, enjoy a cuppa, and connect with the community.
Alongside tea and conversation, New-U facilitated creative crafting activities using damaged and unsellable materials from the shop, helping reduce textile waste while bringing people together through creativity and shared experiences.
Following the popularity of our £1 clothing sales, New-U introduced a new seasonal shopping event — Frocks & Festivals — hosted in the Honesty Library.
The pop-up event showcased our full range of spring and summer fashion, featuring everything from mother-of-the-bride outfits and occasion wear to casual festival-ready looks for rocking out come rain or shine.
What started as a one-day event has now grown into an annual three-day sale, complete with a special preview evening for loyalty customers.
Find out when our next sale event is on here
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