Oxfam Great Britain

Oxfam was founded in 1942 in Oxford, England, as the Oxford Committee for Famine Relief — a group of Quakers, social activists, and Oxford academics who came together to help civilians in Greece who were starving under Nazi occupation during the Second World War. The charity's abbreviated name, 'Oxfam', was coined that same year and became its official trading name in 1965.

Oxfam opened its first charity shop in 1948 at 17 Broad Street, Oxford, making it one of the very first charity shops in the UK. What began as a temporary measure to sell donated goods quickly proved to be a powerful, sustainable source of income — and helped establish the charity shop as a fixture of the British high street.

Today, Oxfam Great Britain operates over 1,300 shops across the UK, raising around £120 million a year for humanitarian and development programmes in more than 90 countries. The shops are staffed by more than 22,000 volunteers — making Oxfam one of the most volunteer-supported retailers in the country.

Oxfam shops are known for their quality and range. Each donated item goes through a thorough assessment process to ensure only good-condition goods reach the shop floor. Many branches have dedicated sections for books, music, vintage clothing, and fair trade gifts. Oxfam also runs one of the UK's largest second-hand online shops at shop.oxfam.org.uk, and sells via eBay — so whether you prefer to shop in person or from home, there's an Oxfam near you.