AT 2AM one May morning in 2018, Wokingham resident Sally Russell woke up with an odd thought that wouldn’t leave her.
Six years on, it has led to the creation of a growing charity that has changed the lives of thousands.
“That night I had a strong impression that I was being told to start something called The Cowshed,” said Sally, “So, that’s what I did.”
“I had no idea what it meant – I just had the name.
“I was really confused, so I shared it with friends.”
Sally, having worked in events management, retail, and grant writing, realised she had the experience and skills to set up a charity.
She began to explore the idea of distributing pre-loved clothes to people that needed them, and was surprised to find this wasn’t already being done.
“Organisations and churches sometimes provide clothes, but often they need mending, or they’re not washed, or the wrong size” she explained.
Suddenly it became very obvious to her that there was a gap to fill.
She began providing good quality clean clothes and other basic items for people in crisis.
“I started with nothing but my faith, but The Cowshed has grown into something massive, which I never envisaged,” she said.
The charity’s logo, a roof and two walls, reflects its aims.
“This is a place of protection for all,” said Sally.
“I felt strongly that I was being told our doors needed to be open for anyone who needs us, without judgement.”
Inside The Cowshed, teams of volunteers ensure everything runs smoothly.
It’s a big operation, and needs a surprising number of hands.
“We have 300 volunteers,” said Sally, “Van drivers, people who sort, others who wash and iron, sewers, menders, and our referrals team, who talk with clients to find out what they need.”
The group’s sewing team alone has 80 members, who mend clothes, make cotton bags for referral packs, and create items from recycled fabrics to sell to raise funds for the charity.
Sally knows everyone’s name, and is greeted by choruses of cheerful hellos when Wokingham.Today takes a tour.
Inside, it’s calm, happy, and organised, and the volunteers look like they’re having fun as well as contributing to the community.
Retired nurse Tanula joined five years ago.
“I love being part of a team here,” she said.
“After giving up work, I would have missed that.
“I love the ethos here, too, giving people dignity, and taking the pressure off families.
“It gives me purpose, and keeps me active and involved.”
Volunteering has been a lifeline for some.
“A few people have told me they had nothing in their lives before joining us, but now they have a reason for living,” said Sally.
“That’s not what I set out to do, but The Cowshed has become an important community for many people.”
Every week the charity receives online referrals, requests for help to support individuals and families in crisis.
After a phone call to find out exactly what each client needs, a list of items is drawn up.
Volunteers then visit all the different departments to collect and pack these into a cotton bag ready for delivery.
If items are missing, the list is placed in a ‘pending’ area until it can be completed.
“Often we lack a very particular, or unusual item,” said Sally.
“But then, extraordinarily, someone will donate exactly the item we’re short of.
“It’s extraordinary, and it happens all the time.
“Things we need turn up again and again, without us asking for them.”
For example, size 13 football boots, or, as happened recently, a specific dress.
“A young girl was hoping to find a pink prom dress, but we didn’t have one in stock,” she continued.
“Literally the next day someone walked in with exactly the right coloured dress, in her size.
“She was over the moon.
“It’s so heartwarming and amazing, and it feels like The Cowshed is a house of miracles.”
In the charity’s donation centre, huge storage bins overflow with the latest deliveries of clothes, toys, books and essentials.
Clothes are washed in industrial machines, mended if necessary, and ironed, before being moved to appropriate racks and rails, sized and labelled.
Books, toys, and everything else is stored in appropriate departments, while anything that can’t be used is passed on to other charities.
“We send used bras to Against Breast Cancer, blankets go to dog rehoming charities,and scrap metal is recycled,” said Sally.
“And we’re plastic free – we recycle any that’s given to us, but we don’t buy it.
“All our referral packs are delivered in cotton bags made from rejected duvets and curtains.”
There are around 100 to 150 referrals each week, with requests such as: size 18 joggers, trainers, a bra, pillows, bedding, a child’s bedroom rug, and a Home At The Cowshed pack.
This is a starter box for families in temporary accommodation, and contains basic kitchenware.
The Cowshed has supported more than 30,000 people since 2018.
“Yes, it’s quite a big charity,” admits Sally, “And we’ve gathered a number of projects along the way.”
As well as its essential home packs, the charity provides school uniforms, prom dresses and suits, children’s books, packs for care leaver new mothers, and hospital bags for new mothers in crisis.
“We work with the Poppy Team at Royal Berkshire Hospital, helping women there who have nothing.
“They may be refugees, or staying in a hotel, and sometimes the hospital can’t let them go home until they have the basic necessities.
“Our packs contain everything they need.”
Beautifully wrapped, these packs offer not just essentials, but dignity and hope.
It costs around £700,000 to sustain the charity’s work, money which comes from grants and donations.
“We just can’t do what we do without support,” said Sally.
We have such a phenomenal community, and people here are awesome.”
But even a growing charity like The Cowshed exists on a wing and a prayer.
“Last November I was really worried because we actually had no money,” said Sally.
“I prayed hard, along with my friends – and within two weeks we had £180,000 in the bank.
“We call it The Cowshed Magic.
“I had no idea it was coming, and the ways it arrived were bizarre.
“For example, the Postcode Lottery rang that week to say, ‘we’re glad you answered the phone because we want to give you £50,000’.
“This really is a house of miracles.”
Regular crafting groups, selling handmade bags and accessories, Little Black Dress evening wear sales, and hire of prom dresses and suits all help to support the work.
“We regularly hold evening wear sales for local shoppers,” said Sally.
“Our clients don’t often need sparkly evening wear, so we keep these items back to sell at reasonable prices.”
Prom dress hire began four years ago after the charity heard about a family who couldn’t pay the mortgage and lost their home after trying to give their daughter the same prom experience as her friends.
“Anyone can hire a dress or suit from us for £50, and it’s free for referrals, with shoes, make-up, and a handbag they can keep,” Sally said.
“We had more than 200 prom appointments this year.”
A similar suit room for boys provides a smart look for men, perhaps on probation, needing to look smart for job interviews, or to attend a funeral.
Along the corridor, a bra fitting room enables clients to choose three items, including maternity and feeding bras, while another is filled with school uniforms.
“We get very busy each academic year,” said Sally.
“A lot of borough schools require branded uniforms, which can be expensive.
“We buy these in for clients who need them, and this year that alone cost us £18,000.”
The building is an Aladin’s cave of neatly stacked and ordered rooms, containing all the shoes, toiletries, baby equipment, clothes, and equipment necessary for the charity’s work.
Leased on a temporary basis from Wokingham Borough Council, it’s light, roomy, and suits their needs well.
Nevertheless the charity’s single biggest priority is to find a permanent home.
“This is a fabulous building,” said Sally,”but we could be moved on at any time with just three months’ notice.
“It does make me nervous, because moving is very complicated and very costly.”
With December just around the corner, teams of volunteers are currently preparing to share the joy, and perhaps some of the charity’s Cowshed Magic on Christmas Day, when 3,000 gifts will be distributed to disadvantaged youngsters in the borough.
“There’s always lots going on here, and it can be quite exhausting,” said Sally.
“But I know there’s a plan, and I’m honored to play a part in it.”
To find out more, to support the charity, or to volunteer, visit: www.thecowshed.org
