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The Free Shops, run in partnership by the University of Sheffield and Sheffield Students’ Union, offered students a wide range of household and kitchen items donated by fellow students and members of the University community.

From plates, mugs and pans to other useful household essentials, the items were made available free of charge to new and returning students.

The initiative forms part of the University and Students’ Union Pass It On campaign, which encourages students and staff to donate good-quality items they no longer need so they can be reused rather than thrown away. By collecting and redistributing items, the scheme helps reduce waste and the need to buy new products, while also supporting students with the cost of setting up a new home.

It also helps reduce the amount of unwanted household goods discarded when students move out of accommodation, supporting the University’s relationship with communities in areas with large student populations.

James Merryclough, Sustainability Programme Lead at the University of Sheffield, said:

“Giving these items a new home means thousands of useful things are staying in circulation rather than becoming waste. Reuse is a really simple but important part of reducing unnecessary consumption and moving towards a more circular approach to how we use resources across the University.”

The initiative supports the University of Sheffield’s Environmental Sustainability Strategy, including its commitment to reducing waste and the environmental impacts associated with purchasing and resource use.

Anna James, Sustainability and Development Officer at 51��ݶ� Students’ Union, said:

“Starting university or moving into a new home can be expensive, so the Free Shops are a brilliant way of helping students get some of the essentials they need without having to buy everything new. It’s also really positive to see students supporting each other by donating items they no longer need so that someone else can make use of them.”

A student who attended one of the Free Shops said:

“Smashing - absolutely loved it! I am really glad that the University and Students’ Union does something like this, I've never seen anything like this in another university.”

The Free Shops are part of an ongoing, campus-wide approach to reuse at 51��ݶ�, which ranges from kitchenware to furniture and textiles. Students and staff can donate suitable items through Pass It On collection points throughout the year, with donations redistributed at future Free Shops.

The University and Students’ Union are encouraging students to think about what they can pass on whenever they have belongings they no longer need - and particularly when preparing to move home at the end of the academic year.