RACKS of designer labels, a good cause, and an afternoon well spent – that’s the promise of a new and pre-loved designer sale coming to Donaghadee on Saturday.
The Dee Does Vinted event has been organised by local woman Joanne Moore in aid of the charity Tribe Ards & North Down.
The sale will be held at Donaghadee Community Centre on Saturday, with gently-worn and brand-new designer clothing on offer, with a £1 entry fee.
For Joanne, who helps look after her nephews Archie and Alfie who have special educational needs, the idea for the sale did not start with a wardrobe clear-out – it started with the boys.
Joanne began thinking about the value placed on people of differing abilities, the planet and all the things bought every day and often discarded.
A Donaghadee resident, Joanne said: “Everything has become so throw-away in society, and I think that can include people too – people who don’t meet other people’s narrow expectations.
“So it’s about the value we place on people, on the planet, and on all the things we’re too quick to discard. This sale became a way of putting that thinking into action – bringing people together and spreading the word about the good work Tribe charity does.
“This all really comes back to my gorgeous nephews, Archie and Alfie, who arrived in 2021. Both boys are awaiting a formal diagnosis but show character traits in keeping with Autism Spectrum Disorder.
“I’ll admit until then I’d been ignorant about neurodiversity, so it’s through the boys that I’ve learned so much – most of all how easily children like Archie and Alfie can be overlooked or underestimated, when actually they have so much value and so much to give, if only they’re given the right support and understanding.
Said Joanne: “I also have huge admiration for my sister, Nicky, who has faced issue after issue and battle after battle to get her boys the best possible support with their education, speech, language and health.
“The lack of support for SEN parents is astounding, and how she copes day to day continues to amaze me. She’s recently found out about Tribe, who have welcomed her into their community, and she plans to engage with their services over the summer – building connections with other SEN parents and carers who understand what she’s going through.
“All admission money from the event will go directly to Tribe, in the hope that they can continue to support and encourage the amazing parents and carers who are so often forgotten and left to struggle alone.”
Said Joanne: “I hope that everyone who grabs a bargain also takes a moment to engage with the fantastic Tribe team, who’ll be there on the day to raise awareness of what they’re working to achieve – because for me, this all comes back to Archie and Alfie, and the value they’ve taught me to see everywhere.”
Tribe works tirelessly to fill the huge gap in autism support and services in the local area, according to parent Ali Mooney.
“Parenting a child with autism can be a very lonely place, your time is taken up not only by the actual parenting, but also by appointments, contact with the school, practitioners, GPs etc,” she said.
“Socialising becomes a challenge for the whole family.
“Challenging behaviour can isolate you even further.
“Tribe is a lifeline for us parents, somewhere where everyone knows what you’re going through, can offer useful advice or just a listening ear, and your child can be themselves.
“We have been given the opportunity to do so many things I wouldn’t have been comfortable doing alone with my child, like a trip to Emerald Park, a residential to Greenhill and even as simple as trips to the cinema.
“Tribe is such an appropriate name, because when you join – that’s exactly what you get… Your Tribe.”
The Dee Does Vinted sale takes place on Saturday, July 18, at Donaghadee Community Centre, Donaghadee, from 1pm to 3pm.
To support Tribe’s work, find out more, or donate directly, log on to: tribeautismsupport.org, and follow the charity on Facebook Tribe Ards & North Down.
