High Peak CVS intends to catch up with one of our groups in a regular, new series called ‘Spotlight on…’ We hope to discover more about the outstanding voluntary work that’s happening across Derbyshire’s High Peak.
This month, we’re talking to Jo Gregory, founder of The Hummingbird Project, headquartered in Glossop, which has pioneered the concept of ‘freetail – free retail”…
- WHAT DOES YOUR GROUP DO?
The Hummingbird Project is a community charity based in Glossop, running “Freetail: Free Retail” – a model we pioneered ourselves that looks and feels like a real shop… but everything is completely free. Our motto, which was established right back in 2020 is simple: ‘Give what you can, take what you need’. We operate two large ‘Freetail hubs’, in Glossop and Buxton, alongside a pop-up hub in Hattersley, Tameside, and also another opening very soon in Gamesley. These support around 250 visitors a week, with no referral and no means-testing required. We give away pre-loved clothing, school uniform, baby equipment, nappies, period products and household essentials – more than 18,000kg of clothing alone every year.
Our ethos is dignity first. We built Freetail specifically to remove the stigma that comes with traditional handout-style support, letting people browse and choose exactly as they would in any shop. We engage with families, individuals, local schools, and other community organisations across High Peak, Tameside and wider Greater Manchester — and many of our volunteers were once the people we supported ourselves.
- WHAT ARE YOUR HOPES FOR THE FUTURE?
In 2026, our focus is on turning proven demand into permanent presence across a wider area. We’re starting by converting our Hattersley pop-up into a permanent Freetail hub and using that as the first step toward a much bigger goal – opening more hubs and pop-ups across Tameside and the High Peak in the communities that need them most. Beyond that, our vision is genuinely national. We want to prove that Freetail isn’t a one-off success story in Glossop, but a replicable model that could bring dignified, stigma-free, community-powered Freetail Hubs to all communities right across the UK.
- HOW HAS HIGH PEAK CVS ASSISTED YOUR GROUP?
High Peak CVS has been an invaluable source of support since we began. They’ve given us expert funding advice, guided us through the process of becoming a registered charity, and offered excellent, knowledgeable advice at every stage of our growth. Just as importantly, they’ve opened up countless opportunities for us to network and collaborate with other local groups and charities – connections that have genuinely strengthened what we’re able to do for our community.
- HOW CAN PEOPLE GET INVOLVED WITH YOUR GROUP?
Whether you can spare a few hours or want to get more involved, we’d love to hear from you.
Get in touch with us at hummingbirdhubs@gmail.com. We’re always looking for volunteers at our hubs in Glossop, Buxton, Hattersley and Gamesley, as well as speaking to local community champions who might like to open their own Hummingbird Freetail Hub. We have a full training academy and offer total support to get going!
