A group of local mums in Eynsham say they have helped keep thousands of children’s clothes in use, while saving families money, through a growing kids’ clothes swap shop run by volunteers.
The Eynsham Kids Clothes Swap Shop, held every other month at St Leonard’s Church, allows families to exchange clothes their children have grown out of and take home items they need next, free of charge.
Run by around 20 local mums, the swap shop has been operating for more than three years and now attracts families from across West Oxfordshire.
Organisers say the idea grew out of frustration at how quickly children outgrow clothes — and how many items end up unused.
“There’s so much perfectly good clothing sitting in drawers and cupboards,” said Vicky Coleman, who founded the swap shop. “We wanted to make it easier for families to save money, help the environment, and support each other.”
Thousands of items reused
Since it launched, the group says it has:
- received 18,154 items of children’s clothing
- helped families take home 11,834 items
- supported 240 families, with 77 new families attending for the first time in 2025
Any surplus clothing left after each event is donated to local baby banks, which organisers say are “always in urgent need” of good-quality baby clothes.
The swap shop is run entirely by volunteers and is funded through small donations and community support.
Demand continues to grow
The group says attendance has increased steadily, largely through word of mouth, but organisers believe many families, particularly those with newborns, are still unaware of the service.
They are now hoping to raise £750 to replace broken storage boxes, print leaflets to reach more families, and make a contribution to St Leonard’s Church, which hosts the events.
“Our storage boxes are constantly breaking under the weight of donations,” Coleman said. “Better storage would make a huge difference to how efficiently we can run the swap — and help us support even more families.”
According to organisers, national figures underline the scale of the issue. Research from 2022 by Mothercare and environmental charity Hubbub estimates that 183 million items of outgrown baby clothes are stored unused in UK homes, while the average British family spends £11,000 on children’s clothing.
Upcoming swap dates
The next Eynsham Kids Clothes Swap Shop events will take place:
- Saturday 24 January (morning)
- Saturday 28 March (morning)
Families are welcome to bring clean, good-quality children’s clothes and take home what they need, regardless of whether they donate items on the day.
Organisers say anyone interested in volunteering, donating storage equipment, or helping spread the word is encouraged to get in touch via the group’s social media pages.
How to get involved
- Attend: Families from Eynsham and beyond are welcome
- Donate: Children’s clothes in good condition
- Volunteer: Sorting, set-up and pack-down support
- Find out more: Find Eynsham Kids Clothes Swap Shop on Instagram
