LOCAL charity Empower will be expanding its fundraising onto a whole new level when it opens its pop-up shop next month.

The organisation – which supports various projects in the Gambia – has long held monthly fashion shows and bargain nights, but as the interest in the fashion nights increased, Jo Heaven, who founded the charity, decided the time was right to expand into their own shop.

“As a little girl I always wanted my own clothes shop so this is a bit of a dream come true for me,” she said.

“I just love clothes, and I love fabrics, and being out and about in Swindon I think a lot of women think the same as I do about clothes and are looking for something a bit different and a bit unique to make them stand out, so it really struck me as something worth doing.

“We’ve been holding the fashion shows each month for about two years now and we just wanted to expand and give people more time to look around the clothes and pick what they want. Not everyone can always make the evening events, so now it’s on a weekend and open for a little longer.

“It’s also a fantastic venue, people can come along and have a drink or a smoothie in The Core before coming upstairs, and the team at The Core have just been so supportive and so helpful.”

The first pop-up shop will take place on August 2 and 3 above The Core juice bar in Devizes Road, Old Town. It will then take place on the first weekend of every month at The Core from then.

From 11am to 4pm people will be able to drop in and browse the items on sale, which can cost anything from 50p to £25.

Jo said: “It’s really beautiful stuff, nearly new clothes and cherished clothes with a vintage twist and may of them still have the labels in.

“It’s not like what you might find in many vintage shops, things that say they are vintage but things that look like what you’re grandmother wore and smell a bit funny. These are really nice items. Shabby chic, knitted wear, everything.

“We have this lovely dress in at the moment which originally cost £140 and will now go on sale at £25.”

As well as clothes, Jo also plans for a number of different trade stalls to be on hand to supplement the stock.

She said: “Each event will have six different themes and then the following month it will all be completely different again.”

All proceeds raised in the pop-up shop will go towards supporting Empower’s projects.

To find out more about the pop-up shop visit www.facebook.com/Vintagetothecore.