Testimonials

“Working with New-U has helped boost my confidence by providing me with the opportunity to help in a retail environment. They also provided workshops to help with writing a CV, searching for jobs and managing finances. Since engaging with New-U I have gained some experience working in an environment I previously wasn’t comfortable with and found that I enjoy some aspects of it.  The staff that I’ve worked with are very kind, friendly and supportive. I enjoy being in the shop and working as part of the team and I always feel as if I’m welcome there.”

“I have become more confident when meeting new people which include staff and customers, everyone is very friendly and I highly recommend New-U to anyone who is looking for work experience. I have learnt so many new things whilst working with staff at New-U and they are very supportive if you need help or get stuck on something, even if you make a mistake by accident they help correct you.  What I like about engaging with New-U is that I love talking to staff and talking to new customers, I also love to help staff when needed. I like being part of the team.”

“I only have positive feelings about the way New-U is run and has helped my autism and my confidence.  Just by working with the team, especially you (Clare) and Shem I am more Independent.”

“Before I started here, there was no way I would be able to stand here talking to you at all.” WP turned volunteer, to a customer.

“The Norwich Swap Shop is a great way for me to make the most of clothes that had been languishing in the wardrobe over lockdown.  As a healthcare assistant at the N&N Hospital, I’m involved in a project to help our elderly patients get up, get dressed, and get moving with more dignity and style than the standard hospital gowns and pyjamas afford. Many of our patients come into hospital unexpectedly, with no access to their own clothes, so we are building up a wardrobe of good quality, clean clothing in all sizes so that our patients can choose an outfit and feel properly dressed. Thank you, New-U, for helping us to improve our patients’ wellbeing!”

“As an Assistant Practitioner in Adult Social Services I have a very diverse client base with various needs. New-U is an invaluable service that has helped empower my service user who had only one set of clothes to their name. I was sign posted to New-U and was met with an “anything we can do to help” attitude. I made a request for a clothing bundle and this was ready the same day. My service user was extremely grateful and said how “humble” and “human” they felt. Thank you so much New-U team!”

“During my work placements, I was welcomed and was made to feel comfortable and supported. The sessions were really enjoyable and everyone was friendly and approachable. I learnt to be more independent and my confidence majorly increased. I had the chance to get used to being in a real working environment and I would do the placements all over again if I was given the opportunity. I am going to see if I can volunteer at the shop on a semi-regular basis in the future to stay in touch with everyone. I cannot think of any way that the work placement project could be improved, I really enjoyed it, thank you.” – Young person supported on a Work Placement and Employability Workshop with New-U Cromer and Merchants’ Place.

“Working with New-U has helped boost my confidence by providing me with the opportunity to help in a retail environment. They also provided workshops to help with writing a CV, searching for jobs and managing finances. Since engaging with New-U I have gained some experience working in an environment I previously wasn’t comfortable with and found that I enjoy some aspects of it.  The staff that I’ve worked with are very kind, friendly and supportive. I enjoy being in the shop and working as part of the team and I always feel as if I’m welcome there.” Young person supported on a Work Placement and Employability Workshop with New-U Norwich.

“I have become more confident when meeting new people which include staff and customers, everyone is very friendly and I highly recommend New-U to anyone who is looking for work experience. I have learnt so many new things whilst working with staff at New-U and they are very supportive if you need help or get stuck on something, even if you make a mistake by accident they help correct you.  What I like about engaging with New-U is that I love talking to staff and talking to new customers, I also love to help staff when needed. I like being part of the team.”  Young person supported on a Work Placement with New-U Norwich.

“I only have positive feelings about the way New-U is run and has helped my autism and my confidence.  Just by working with the team I am more independent.” Young person supported on a Work Placement with New-U Norwich.

“My client really enjoyed the work experience at New-U, getting the opportunity to explore the retail sector and realizing that she has potential! It is evident that she has been developing self-confidence recently and this is thanks to New-U!  She said that through this experience she realised that she likes working in the fashion retail and she really enjoyed the entire experience, particularly using the till and the visual merchandising tasks.”

“It has been a good boost for our client’s confidence to have experience in a real working environment. Thank you for your support with our students, it is much appreciated and we hope to work with you again with other placements in the future.” – Job Coach in Hospitality Enterprise at City College Norwich

“As an Assistant Practitioner in Adult Social Services I have a very diverse client base with various needs. New-U is an invaluable service that has helped empower my service user who had only one set of clothes to their name. I was sign posted to New-U and was met with an “anything we can do to help” attitude. I made a request for a clothing bundle and this was ready the same day. My service user was extremely grateful and said how “humble” and “human” they felt. Thank you so much New-U team!”

“At Community Chaplaincy Norfolk, we work with people who are leaving prison, often meeting them at the gate on the day of release. Navigating that first day after release is a huge challenge, and support from New-U in the form of clothing vouchers has been a useful resource. Not only does it give our clients access to warm, clean clothing, but being able to go into the Swap Shop and pick out something they like is also a step on their journey to build up confidence and independence.

“New-U have been supporting HMP Norwich by providing good quality clothing to the men on the day of their release from custody. This has been a welcomed offering for the men who for some, do not have many possessions to their name. New-U also provide us with vouchers that we can offer  the men and they can then exchange these for clothes within the shop. This has been well received and appreciated and really gives them some hope in starting afresh in the outside world.”

“This shop makes me feel so much better.  I have health issues and not much money to spend on clothes and coming in here cheers me up.  My husband came in yesterday, swapped some clothes and left with 4 lovely shirts.  My daughter loves it here too.”

“This shop makes me feel so much better.  I have health issues and not much money to spend on clothes and coming in here cheers me up.  Everyone is so friendly.”

“It’s great because you can trade in a few clothes that you were kind of ‘meh’ about, or things you don’t wear as much as you thought you would when you bought them, and for those few clothes you didn’t care about you can get something really special, like, genuinely super.”

“I find you a really useful resource. I gained a lot of weight recently and am much healthier, but don’t fit into most of my old clothes. It would cost so much to replace all that, all my casual clothes, work clothes, party outfits. Being able to change my wardrobe without the stress of the cost attached is helping me feel more confident in change and working on my eating disorder. And it means all my old clothes don’t just get chucked in the bin, I still get value from them and someone else can enjoy them.”

“I love coming to see you! You always have something exciting for me to find.”

“I can’t say I’ve ever had buyer’s remorse with you, partly because I love everything I get and partly because I know if I didn’t I can just swap it back, easy peasy.”

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“For a shop full of used stuff it’s very clean and very modern not like some charity shops. Modern and boutique-y.”

not like some charity shops. Modern and boutique-y.”

“It’s such a lovely place! It has a very smart look, boutique look.”