Kettering Happy Chic clothes sale raises £1,080 for Johnny's Happy Place

Fashion-loving friends, calling themselves Happy Chic, have boosted the coffers of a support service and café in Kettering – with donations now totalling more than £5,000.

The group of seven pals from Kettering held their most successful clothes sale yet raising £1,080 for Johnny’s Happy Place (JHP).

Harnessing their love of charity shop bargains and the rise of ‘fast fashion’, the group realised how much unworn clothing they had in their wardrobes.

Happy Chic organiser Julie Buxton, who stores most of the donations in her spare room, said: “We have long been admirers of the wonderful work of Denise McKay (founder) and the team at JHP.

“Selling our clothes to raise funds for the JHP café and drop in seemed a natural fit.”

The charity sales debuted in 2018 – as well as stalls at Kettfest, Happy Chic events have been held in the back rooms of pubs, summer car boot sales, pop-ups at festivals and at Johnny’s Happy Place in Rockingham Road.

Clothes contributor Jo Evans said: “The sales at JHP are my favourite. This spring sale we had people queueing out of the door. Once people have shopped they can pop next door to the café, meet the team and see the café in action.”

Since launching their Happy Chic Facebook page, the popularity of the sales has grown – and so has the number of donations. Despite the low prices, the team have raised over £5,000 since their inception and will be hosting their next sale in the autumn.

Julie added: “People can contact us once they have had a clear-out and we collect the stock for our next sale. We accept both men’s and women’s good quality clean clothing. Prices are kept low in the hope that people will buy, donate and repeat.”

Hosted at the Keystone centre in Rockingham Road, Johnny’s Happy Place was set up by Johnny Mackay’s family after he took his own life in 2014, aged 29.

The drop-in community café and services are dedicated to supporting people by providing a space to help those living with anxiety issues and depression, or just feel isolated.

JHP is open Saturdays 10am to 2pm and Sundays 11am to 2pm at Keystone, 97 Rockingham Road, Kettering, NN16 9HX.