SHAREWEAR
A need for free clothing provision in Nottingham is identified by our Founder, Louise Cooke’s, son whilst volunteering at a food bank.
Sharewear is founded by a small group of parishioners from Our Lady of Perpetual Succour (Bulwell) and Infant of Prague (Bestwood) Catholic churches. The Infant of Prague Catholic Church becomes Sharewear’s first home.
We begin an outreach service, so other organisations can help the people they support from their own sites, without the need to refer them to our base.
We move into bigger premises in Bestwood Park and are featured in various media including The Guardian online, The Independent online, and RT UK. We become a Registered Charity.
We move into bigger premises again, in Arnold. The donation of a van allows us to step up our outreach service. Our volunteer team reaches 40. By the end of the year we had clothed 3,800 that year alone, two thirds of these by outreach to other organisations.
We moved into our store-front premises in Daybrook, allowing for more space for browsing and processing. Our Sattelite Sharewear sessions in Sutton-in Ashfield were established, these continued until 2021.
Our #NothingToWear and #Manuary campaigns gain traction, highlighting the disparity between clothing waste and clothing poverty in the UK.
Sharewear continued to operate throughout lockdowns, working with various measures in place to provide clothing support to those in most urgent need.
Sharewear premiered our short film ‘Clothing Poverty - Exposed’ showcasing our work and the wider impact of the charity.
Sharewear moves into a warehouse style premises in Top Valley even larger still and employ an additional member of staff.
Our Kent and Medway Community Sharewear branch opened, serving women and children under their SATEDA charity until late 2025. We held Mobile Sharewear sessions in Nottingham for those having fled the war in Ukraine.
We moved into our Edwalton Clothing Centre, an expansive space allowing us to increase our provision and improve our client experience.
We employ our fifth and sixth members of part time staff bringing us up to a 3.2 full time equivalent team.
Today #TeamSharewear remain a volunteer-led charity with 52 volunteers, without whom the charity ceases to exist.
What began as a small community idea has grown into a powerful movement through Louise’s vision and passion, which continues to improve the lives of thousands of people. Following 11 incredible years leading our charity from strength to strength, Louise has now stepped down as CEO, leaving our organisation in an excellent position for the future.
We are deeply grateful for the care, energy, and belief she poured into bringing our Sharewear community together and shaping our shared mission. We proudly carry forward the strong values she established, driven by the team who continues this vital work every day and keeps Louise’s vision thriving.
© 2026 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED — Registered charity number: 1170084 | Sharewear Clothing Scheme
