How did you get involved with Get Loose?

I’ve been volunteering with Get Loose since the start. I pick up my fish from SoleShare every Wednesday at the farm and one day I saw Jacki setting up the shop and the sign asking for volunteers. We had a chat and I started from there on the 1st of August 2018. 

What is your role?

My main role is on the till, stocking up and stacking shelves. 

What do you love about Get Loose?

I love how Get Loose has grown and evolved, with some new innovation or product every week, and how volunteers contribute with different skills such as DIY or IT. I don’t think Jacki ever thought at the outset that so many volunteers would come on board and that it would effectively become a community shop. Another fabulous and pretty unique thing about Get Loose is that we sell so many things that are made locally by local people such as the yoghurt, tofu and chocolates.

My day job is in local government where I work on large projects and where everything happens very slowly. What I enjoy about volunteering at Get Loose is the immediacy and the feeling of working on something which is really small and intimate but part of a big movement. 

What is your favourite product?

My favourite product is the yeast extract which we don’t sell anymore because it was pricey, but I’m a big Marmite lover and this yeast extract is like an upgraded super quality deluxe velvety gorgeous Marmite. Can we start selling it again?

Why is Get Loose different?

It’s the volunteers that make Get Loose what it is. It runs on love and dedication in a way that I don’t think would be the case in a standard retail outlet with payroll staff.