Jo Woolley, 30, volunteers at Ikosi Creations Vintage Charity Shop on Old Ford Road which has just come under new management. The store encourages East Enders to donate their unwanted treasures so they can be sold to help the charity fight against two rar
Jo Woolley, 30, volunteers at Ikosi Creations Vintage Charity Shop on Old Ford Road which has just come under new management. The store encourages East Enders to donate their unwanted treasures so they can be sold to help the charity fight against two rare and incurable blood disorders - sickle cell disease and thalassaemia.
Where are you from?
Originally I'm from Manchester but I've been living in London for about seven years. I live in Hackney Wick.
Why do you enjoy working at Ikosi?
I like rummaging through peoples' old clothes and recycling tat. Plus I like helping the charity obviously, which is mainly about raising awareness of and fighting the blood diseases called sickle cell disease and thalassaemia. It's mainly an African women's charity. I've actually been working at the store for only two weeks but I know that it has recently come under new management and a lot of changes have been made. It used to be closed all the time, but now there is an effort to make it more open and accessible to people - which is good because there is actually some really good stuff in here. Now that the shop has been de-cluttered, people can actually go through what we have rather than just walking in and going 'augh!!'
Where can you be found on a normal weekend?
Usually in the Britannia Pub or somewhere else in Victoria Park. I do a clothes swap-shop every weekend at either the Britannia or the Flea Pit on Columbia Road, and so when I'm not there, I'll be handing out flyers for the swap-shop at places like Broadway Market, London Fields and Victoria Park.
What do you like about East London?
The creative vibe about this area probably makes it the most unique place in the whole country. There are so many creative people here. Plus I love the parks and all the markets. And everyone's on bikes!
What do you dislike about East London?
The fact that you can't get a doctors appointment! They are so oversubscribed around here. Also I don't like the roadworks, and the people who are just 'too cool for school.'
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