Introduction

If you are interested in setting up a swap, swishing or jumble sale event, there are some useful tools to show you how.

Holding a swap shop or give and take day

A swap shop is like a cashless bring-and-buy sale. It sometimes has other names “bring and take”, “give or take days”, “free for all” or “Freecycle days”.

Participants do not need to being anything in order to take away goods, and vice versa. However, you may want to limit the number of free items taken per person to avoid abuse from traders looking for cheap items to sell on. Additional items can be sold to participants at your event for a nominal price.

This is a great way for a community to come together, and for local groups to raise their profile. You can use this as a fund-raising idea by asking for donations, charging an entry fee, or selling additional items above the agreed limit for free items.

Some tools to help you organise your event.

There are additional tools below to help you organise your event:

Template press release for Freecycle day courtesy of Wedmore Green Group
Risk assessment template (PDF) or Risk assessment template (Word document)
How to make a risk assessment rating courtesy of Somerset Council
Event poster template version 1 – no electricals or duvets
Event poster template version 2 – add your own exclusions

To use the event poster templates, simply fill in the form boxes for the name of your group and the event, the day and date of your event, the time of your event and the address of the venue. On version 2 only, add the items you wish to exclude your web address if you have one at the bottom of the page.

If you are using Adobe Reader, you will not be able to save the completed poster, but you can print it. If you have Adobe Acrobat you should be able to save and print.

Holding a swishing party

A swishing party is a fun way to update your wardrobe for free. It is easy to do and it can be as big or small as you want, from a small group of friends to a bustling community event. You choose.

There are various online guides to help you run a swishing party, including this one from Sustainable(ish).

Like swap shops, swishing events are a great way for a community to come together and for local groups to raise their profile. You can use this as a fund-raising idea by asking for donations, charging an entry fee, or selling additional items above the agreed limit for free items.

Jumble sales for fundraising

Here is a great guide from Alzheimer’s Society to start fund-raising: Organising a jumble sale