Kaushalya UK opens Shop to Fund Vital Services

The non-profit organisation Kaushalya UK CIC’s shop RELOVE officially opened on February 1, 2025.

One focus of the shop is to generate much-needed income to help sustain services and projects.

The opening was attended by an energised group of people, including volunteers, Councillor Garry Perry, service users and the public.

RELOVE is located in Walsall’s town centre, within St Paul’s Church. The church is a community hub that includes shops and a café.

Ritu Sharma founded the non-profit community organisation and social enterprise Kaushalya UK to “empower and uplift women”.

The organisation addresses taboo topics within British Asian communities and wider society, like abuse and mental health.

Kaushalya UK also raises awareness and provides support to men facing mental health issues and who are victims and survivors of domestic abuse.

Leader of Walsall Council, Councillor Garry Perry, said:

“Violence against women and girls is significantly high, as you know, not just in the UK but actually across the world.

“And men struggle and suffer from domestic abuse and mental health as well.

“I know the work [Kaushalya UK] do will support anyone wherever that need is, and that’s important to me, it’s important to the organisation and all of you […].

“It’s always a pleasure to be amongst such a professional organisation.

“One that brings humour, compassion and kindness. That’s what our world should be about, not division.”

For Ritu, the shop will help achieve many objectives, both for the well-being of her organisation and those she works to support:

“The RELOVE charity shop is to generate revenue for the CIC, allowing us to continue running our projects and doing what we want to do in the community.

“But also, it is to give lots of volunteering opportunities to the ladies we support.

“The shop will be predominately volunteer-led, and the aim is to provide opportunities for women to build confidence and skills.”

The store embraces the idea that what one person no longer wants can be another’s treasure. It has “pre-loved quality” clothing, shoes, bags and jewellery.

When asked why she chose to open a shop focused on “pre-loved” items, Ritu told DESIblitz:

“There’s an element of taking responsibility environmentally, that’s why pre-loved clothing.

“When you look at the shop, you’ll see the stuff we have put there is really good quality and in very good condition.

“It’s been used once, twice or three times maybe, but there’s still a lot of life left in it. Some are new, owned but not worn.

“Of course, the cost of living is sky-high these days, and to be honest, the kind of quality clothing we’ll be selling at low prices will come in handy for many women.

“We are doing Asian and English clothing.”

The Need for Community Organisations and Funding Issues

Voluntary, community, and social enterprise (VCSE) sector organisations have invaluable knowledge and expertise in helping communities.

Communities and individuals across Britain continue to struggle with the cost of living and face numerous challenges.

With governmental cuts and reduced statutory services, organisations in the VCSE sector are filling significant gaps.

Indeed, non-profit organisations face increased demand for their crucial services.

At the same time, they face the challenge of locating funding to sustain essential support services and staff.

In a 2022 government report, VCSE Crown Representative Claire Dove CBE wrote:

“[VCSEs] place-based solutions can create a greater impact for those most in need, who are hard for the traditional public sector to reach.

“VCSEs contribute to economic growth, making the economy more innovative, resilient and productive.

“They can open up opportunities for people to engage with their community, foster belonging and enrich lives.

“Therefore, the VCSE sector’s unique role in public services is vital, more now than ever.”

The role organisations like Kaushalya UK play in society cannot be underestimated.

The Difficulty of Short-term Funding

RELOVE is one stream through which Ritu focuses on ensuring funding to maintain the vital support Kaushalya UK provides.

Ritu has successfully obtained funding from various sources, including the National Lottery Community Fund and the British Heart Foundation.

She aims to generate income to help maintain the organisation’s long-term work.

Short-term funding is invaluable in facilitating the launch of vital aid and resources for vulnerable groups and the community.

However, problems can arise in sustaining funding for such work in the long term. Ritu is working strategically to address this.

For this reason, volunteers are an invaluable part of her organisation and the third sector. As Ritu maintained:

“Lack of funds is generally a big challenge. We are fortunate that we have a dedicated team of volunteers.”

It is also important to note that the VCSE sector provides many jobs. In 2023, the sector employed about 925,000 people.

The majority of people work for smaller organisations with less than 50 employees. Such organisations also face challenges in sustaining and gaining funding and income for staff as demand for their services continues.

Research shows that every pound a community organisation generates creates two pounds and fifty pence for the local economy.

In October 2024, during a House of Lords debate on the VCSE sector, Baroness Fraser of Craigmaddie stated:

“The sector is facing a perfect storm, and I am deeply concerned about what the future looks like for many, many charities.

“We face a situation where organisations are closing due to cash flow, not based on their impact.

“This will affect beneficiaries as well as essential public services.

“NPC [think tank], which the noble Baroness referred to, estimated recently that charities prop up state services by £2.4 billion a year.

“These organisations are key partners, and it is about time we treated them as such.”

“When will there be recognition that this sector is not voluntary, it is essential?”

Non-profit organisations like Kaushalya UK work hard to provide a safe space of belonging and practical and emotional support.

When funding ends, invaluable services and initiatives often end or are paused until more funds can be obtained. This creates gaps that detrimentally impact individuals, families, and communities.

VCSE sector organisations have become a lifeline for communities and vulnerable groups nationwide.