We recently visited Restore in Carlisle for the Big Lunch, to talk to local people and organisations about community work being done in our local area, and to interview the shop’s very special Manager Helen.
The Healthwatch Cumberland team host a series of Wellbeing Drop In’s in Restore on the 1st Friday of every month and Helen has been a massive help in supporting us to make these sessions possible.
Helen has been Manager at the Restore shop on Castle Street since January 2025.
“I’ve been here since January 2025 and it’s really nice to see the shop flourishing.”
“My experience has been quite tricky but very fulfilling. It can be challenging as we work with vulnerable people and lots of different people use the space. We have to make sure there are enough volunteers. There’s so much going on in Restore: the community space, the shop, the volunteers. It’s really good. It’s fabulous. It’s been a really inspiring experience to see people gain confidence and be able to speak to others more comfortably.”
“I’ve always wanted to do something like this so I applied for a third sector Business Management degree and ended up at Restore!”
Helen is currently doing a degree in Business Management in the Third Sector with Brathay Trust.
Restore is much more than a charity shop, and provides lots of opportunities for local people to connect, grow and get involved.
“Restore is a community focused charity shop with an emphasis on community connection. Each individual Restore shop is independent and has it’s own creative freedom.”
“My favourite part about working at Restore is the people.”
“I love seeing regulars come in for a cup of coffee and a chat. I think everyone who comes in should be greeted with a hello and a moment and a laugh. I want to help give people a good day. And watching the volunteers grow in confidence is really great to see.”
Restore are always looking for more volunteers to get involved in supporting the shop:
“Volunteers can do whatever they want to do at Restore. I don’t run a tight ship, they can get involved in as many activities as they want and feel like doing on a particular day.”
“It’s fantastic to see the resilience in volunteers and their motivation to keep showing up. I love seeing them have a reason to come into the shop and get involved.”
“We’ve recently had some people volunteering with us whose first language is not English and it’s been lovely to see these volunteers have somewhere to go to socialise and learn English as well as volunteer. We want everyone to feel at home here.”
We asked Helen what she would say to anyone who is thinking of visiting Restore and getting involved as a volunteer, or running a session in the free community space:
“I would say just come and talk. You never know where a conversation will lead. Be open to opportunities and sparking things – that’s the only way you grow. You grow with your audience, so I would say just listen to your audience.”
“If you want to volunteer, just pop into the shop and have a chat with our team.”
The Healthwatch Cumberland team recently came to Restore with the People First Best Life learners, who are learning about volunteering and how important it is for communities.
The impact that Restore has on Carlisle’s community spirit is very clear. If you’re interested in supporting your local community through volunteering, or if you’re looking to build up your confidence and skills, Restore is a great place to start.
We are so grateful to Helen for everything she does, and for telling us a bit more about what Restore means to her.