Celebrating the 75th Anniversary of the first ever Oxfam Shop

On 24 September 2022 the team from the Oxfam Supply Centre pitched in to help celebrate the 75 th Anniversary of the first Oxfam Shop in Broad Street, Oxford. We set up a T11 Steel Tank, a Tapstand, a Latrine Slab, some Jerry Buckets, and a Handwashing Station alongside the street stalls, and had a wonderful day interacting with staff, volunteers, and the general public. It was great to see the equipment set up right outside the shop, a very visual statement about where our money comes from and where it goes to.

The Broad Street Shop was opened in 1947, just five years after the Oxford Committee for Famine Relief held its fist meeting. The shop was intended to act as a collection point for donations from the public, and as a means of re-selling them. This was not only the first Oxfam shop, it was the first ever charity shop in the world, and helped define a charity fundraising and campaigning model which has become universal in the UK

Reflecting on the day, Ed Blagden, Head of the Oxfam Supply Centre, said:

“These days, the shops are, wrongly, seen as being rather separate from the core operations of our charity. This event brought home to me the fact that the shops are a fundamental part of our origin story and are there not only to raise money but also to act as a point of contact with the general public. The dedication and commitment of our shop staff and volunteers is inspiring, and it was a privilege to be part of this event.”