x-Nottingham Trent University students Grace Walker and Angie Ford have opened a shop in Hockley which sells great clothes and also helps a charity. RIAH MATTHEWS finds out more.

THE Charity Shop, as it's named, is a charity shop with a difference. Located in Hockley, the premises could easily be mistaken for a trendy vintage shop.

Although very bijoux, it has been thoughtfully set out with a homely living room-style area at the front and quirkier items in a little area at the rear.

It's run by ex-Nottingham Trent University students Grace Walker, 23, and Angie Ford, 24, who were given the opportunity by The Aegis Trust to open the charity shop after they graduated in July last year.

The Aegis Trust is an international charity based at the Holocaust Centre in Newark. As well as running the centre, the trust also campaigns against crimes against humanity and genocide in countries such as Rwanda and Sudan.

They both visited Rwanda with Aegis after their second year of university and felt they wanted to do something to help the charity's work.

Grace says: "We were able to see first hand what had happened in Rwanda and what Aegis were doing out there.

"It was amazing knowing that we played a little part in the organisation."

The girls were eager to be able to work with the charity once they graduated and were delighted when they were asked to open the charity shop – a first for the Aegis Trust.

Grace says: "It's been really good fun. We were given a lot of freedom to make it how we wanted, as long as we stuck to the budget."

The Charity Shop is ideally located next to the chic Oxfam premises in Goosegate – ensuring they get lots of overflow from customers drawn there, although Angie says: "We were trying to get away from the normal kind of charity shop."

Grace adds: "The key to a good charity shop is to have unique items, good quality items and keep the bargains in there as well."

The pair had their eye on the unit years ago when they were students and lived in the flat above.

They have sourced all of the stock themselves from friends, relatives and donations, as well as crafts from Rwanda and some paintings made by people from the local Darfuri community.

It might be fancier than your average charity shop but the girls have tried to keep the prices reasonable.

Grace says: "New things are for sale at a third of their original price and second hand things go at a quarter – unless of course they do hold a lot of value."

And being located in Hockley means they have had the odd gem donated including some second hand Paul Smith items and some fancy dresses from Plush across the road.

Since its opening, Grace and Angie have been working on a voluntary basis but, now they've made enough money to cover the initial costs, they will receive a small wage for their work.

But for them it's really all about promoting Aegis and making sure the shop is a success – and the forerunner of more.

Grace says: "Aegis really love it.

"This first place is about making enough money to put into another shop because they'd really love a chain of shops, so it's a trial one really."

And she added: "We're just pleased to have been given the opportunity to help the charity is some way and when you go out to places like Rwanda it makes you realise how important charities like that are."

If you'd like to volunteer at The Charity Shop then please contact Grace or Angie on 0115 950 6417. For more information on The Aegis Trust go to www.aegistrust.org.