Vision Linens joins A Good Thing!

When Vision Linens joined A Good Thing, it jumped straight into action. Within days of signing up, the Manchester-based textiles company had already responded to multiple charity needs and, before long, had shared hundreds of items with local organisations that needed them.

It all began with a message from A Good Thing to Rachael Shah, Head of Sustainability, Strategy and Communications at Vision Linens. Rachael was just about to help with a warehouse clearance, and the timing couldn’t have been better.

“This is a well-timed message,” she said. “We were having a site clearance, so we had old sample stock that couldn’t be resold.”
Even before creating her first listing, Rachael had already offered up mugs and furniture in response to nearby charity needs. Then came the listing that really took off: a batch of 100 tea towels. The response from local charities was immediate.

“I have a good dilemma," said Rachael. "Based on the listing I did of 100 tea towels, I’ve been inundated with offers. To the point where I just want to invite all the charities to be able to come and take some as it will help them and help us!”

Seven charities in total ended up benefitting from the donation – and many have been in touch to tell us what a big difference it’s made.

Supporting cats in crisis – and their carers

Cat’s Guidance Rescue, a charity based in Wigan, is dedicated to rescuing, rehabilitating and rehoming cats. Founded in October 2018, the organisation works tirelessly to care for cats in need – relying entirely on fundraising and donations to cover costs.

The charity received some of the donated tea towels, which were put to excellent use both in its charity shop and in a pop-up store held at the local "CommUnity Corner".

“Yes, it was the first time we won on this platform,” said Janette from the team. “The tea towels went down very well in the charity shop, and we also arranged a pop-up shop in our local 'CommUnity Corner' for people who struggle to buy basic items that they need.”

Both events sold out on the same day, and the funds raised have gone directly towards the charity’s monthly vet fees, which are currently around £4,000.

One of the cats currently in care is Cleo, who was sadly abandoned after losing her sight due to untreated hypertension. With her blood pressure now stabilised, Cleo is adjusting to life as a blind cat — and the support raised from this donation is helping make that transition possible.

“We wish we could have more items to sell in the shop like this,” Janette added. “Practical everyday items help us and the community immensely.”

A warm welcome from Bolton Hospice

Another grateful recipient was Bolton Hospice, which put its donated tea towels to good use in its kitchens, café and shops. Bolton Hospice is a registered charity providing specialist palliative care and support to patients and families facing life-limiting illnesses in the Bolton area.

“We love A Good Thing!” said Adrian Vickers, Head of Income Generation at Bolton Hospice. “We recently secured a large quantity of household linen items and tea towels – granted, not the most glamorous item! – but they’ve massively helped our charity. As well as saving us money, we were also able to raise funds from them. We’ve also made some great business contacts too!”

Everyday items, extraordinary impact
Also receiving donations were:

• Proud 2 b Parents: An LGBT+ family support charity that used the towels during its community events and baby sessions.

• Manchester Refugee Support Network: where the towels were put to use in its community café and centre.

• Somali Advice Link: which operates three centres with kitchens and events that require extensive cleaning and maintenance.

• Step Up MCR: which works with Feed My City to deliver free hot meals and support across Manchester.

Rachael was amazed by how quickly charities responded and how appreciative they were:

“It was overall a straightforward process, and the email alerts help you quickly know if a charity is interested,” she told us. “What I didn’t realise is that you can split a donation, which is a great way to help multiple charities with the same items.”

She also shared how easy it was to list items on the platform:

“It made listing old items a breeze and the added bonus is knowing that they make a real difference to local charities.”

More than just tea towels

Rachael also told us about another donation through the platform — a wooden table that went to the St John’s Centre charity, where it’s now helping generate income by enabling the charity to rent the space out for events.

And if you’d like to hear more in Rachael’s own words, she’s even shared about the experience on LinkedIn, spreading the word to her professional network and encouraging more businesses to get involved.

Join the movement

At A Good Thing, we’re proud to connect generous businesses like Vision Linens with the charities who need their support. This story shows just how valuable even the simplest items can be and how, with a little matchmaking, they can change lives.

If your business has surplus items you no longer need, why not sign up and donate them to a local charity? Join A Good Thing today!