Award-winning charity seeks a new home to continue its vital work 

The Hummingbird Project, a community-powered clothing and support hub in Glossop, is reaching out for help to secure a new premises.

The charity, which was presented with the prestigious King’s Award for Voluntary Service in 2025, is seeking a safe, accessible, and affordable space to continue its vital work. 

Jo Gregory, founder of The Hummingbird Project, said: 

“The Hummingbird Project has always been rooted in community. From the very beginning, our work has depended not just on our small team, but on the goodwill, generosity and belief of the people and businesses around us. It is in that same spirit that we are reaching out now. 

“First and foremost, we want to express our sincere gratitude to our current landlords. Their support has enabled us to grow, to deliver vital services, and to provide a welcoming space for the people we support. We are deeply thankful for the opportunity we have had to operate from our current premises, and we recognise the value of the trust and cooperation shown to us during our time here. 

“As a small charity, however, we face ongoing financial pressures. Like many organisations in the voluntary sector, we work hard to stretch every pound as far as possible. Rising costs - particularly rent, utilities, and overheads - have a significant impact on our ability to focus resources where they matter most: directly supporting our community. For an organisation of our size, premises costs are especially challenging, and we must be realistic about what is sustainable in the long term. 

“For this reason, The Hummingbird Project is now seeking a new premises that better reflects our scale and financial capacity. We are not looking for anything elaborate - simply a safe, accessible, and affordable space where we can continue our work without the constant strain of unsustainable costs. 

This is where we hope our community can help. Every lead, suggestion, and show of solidarity truly matters to us.” 

Founded in 2020 during the Covid pandemic, The Hummingbird Project started humbly in Jo Gregory’s cellar, distributing bags of clothes to those in need and to local schools. Jo explained during her King’s Award acceptance speech: 

“We just started handing out bags of clothes to people who needed them and to schools. Fast-forward to now and we’ve roughly estimated that we’ve given away over two million pounds worth of pre-loved items.” 

The charity now distributes over 150 clothing packs and more than 50 items of baby equipment per month. It has also organised community campaigns including gifting over 4,000 Easter eggs and over 100 laptops and mobile phones to local schools during lockdown. Over the past five years, an astonishing 40,000 gifts have been re-gifted to local people through their Christmas Gift Appeal. 

In March 2022, the charity secured National Lottery funding to rent its first headquarters, moving in April 2023 to a 1,600 sq ft unit on Surrey Street where the community can shop in comfort. The Hummingbird Project operates entirely on volunteer effort and donations, providing free clothing, baby items, toiletries, and more in a stigma-free ‘Freetail’ environment. 

The charity is now calling on landlords, business owners, and community members to help identify an affordable space that allows them to continue their work sustainably. Support can come in many forms - from a conversation or recommendation to a lead on a potential property. 

For more information or to offer help, visit: https://hummingbirdhubs.co.uk 

The Hummingbird Project’s mission remains clear: uplift, support, and empower the community while keeping items out of landfill. With the support of Glossop and beyond, the charity hopes to find a new home that will ensure its vital work continues for many years to come.