Retail Trust | The only charity that looks after the needs of three million people working in retail.

Landlords...empty unit in Enfield needed for short term youth project

Charities vInspired and Retail Trust are requesting landlords with empty premises in Enfield town centre to donate a space to support the programme, Retail Ready People, from mid-October-November.

Thirty 16-25 year olds will be trained to makeover an empty shop in Enfield with the aim of transforming the disused space into a creative retail shop to build the volunteers’ skills and experience.

Nigel J L Rothband, Retail Trust’s Chief Executive explains, “This is a unique opportunity for Enfield’s young people to convert an empty shop in the town centre into a thriving and creative hub for four weeks. Local landlords are a key ingredient to help make this happen for the community and its young people.”

This week staff from Retail Ready People visited empty shops on Church Street, Enfield Town with Nick de Bois, Member of Parliament for Enfield North, and Mark Rudling, Town Centre manager who are also supporting the campaign.

Nick de Bois MP says, “Enfield has been chosen as one of the very first Retail Ready People locations. This is a unique opportunity to use empty spaces in a meaningful way. I am urging property owners and agents to contact vInspired to discuss how they can lend their support to this excellent opportunity for our young people.”

Dan Thompson, founder of the Empty Shops Network and author of the Pop-Up People Report, will also be supporting the recruits who will manage all aspects of the shop, including customer experience, visual merchandising, stock control, branding, PR, marketing, finance, decorating shop-fitting and staffing.

Mark Rudling, Enfield’s Town Centre manager, is supporting the campaign as the landlord who donates the empty space will benefit from rate relief and will have the chance to showcase their unit in a positive light. He explains, “There are loads of benefits for landlords. By giving the empty space to our local young people the landlord will be helping to drive footfall to the town centre while also helping to maintain the value of the property. I think it’s a great idea and recommend anyone with a central space to get in touch with vInspired as soon as possible.”

Pictured here L-R are Mark Rudling, Dan Thompson, Nick de Bois MP, Danielle Domanski

To donate an empty shop in Enfield or for more information about Retail Ready People visit contact Danielle Domanski, Special Projects Manager, on 0775001024 or email retailready@vinspired.com.