Whiteley Shopping Centre's first clothes swap shop has been hailed as a success.

More than 800 items of pre-loved clothing were donated for its one-day pop-up.

The centre teamed up with charity Cash for Kids South Coast, which is dedicated to improving the lives of disadvantaged children and young people across the south, to invite shoppers on Saturday, August 3, to donate their pre-loved clothes.

For each donated item, shoppers received a token which could then be used to browse the pop-up and swap their tokens for new outfits, wardrobe staples, and hidden vintage gems.

Over a hundred further items were swapped directly on the day by shoppers, with any remaining donations being given to Cash for Kids.

The charity, which in 2023 helped over 27,500 children, has been working with Donate It Recycling to ensure any remaining donations following the pop-up have gone to clothes banks or been recycled.

For more information about Cash for Kids, visit their website.

Mia Gordon, centre manager at Whiteley, said: "We can herald our first clothes swap shop pop-up a huge success here at Whiteley.

"The variation and quality of the preloved items which were donated by shoppers was fantastic to see and it’s great we have been able to give shoppers an opportunity to curate a new wardrobe – for free.

"A huge thank you must go out to Cash for Kids for partnering with us on the pop-up, and to everyone who came down on the day to support in helping us make a positive impact within our local community."

Sam Tanner, charity manager for Cash for Kids South Coast, said: "A huge thank you to Whiteley Shopping Centre for organising their first Clothes Swap.

"It is a wonderful incentive that not only stops clothes ending up in landfill but also raises money for Cash for Kids South Coast – this means that we can use these funds to support children in Hampshire who need a helping hand in life due to disability or poverty."

Whiteley in Fareham  offers 70 stores, a variety of food venues, and a climbing centre.