Emma Thomson is one of the forces behind the fledgling, Newcastle-based community organisation, which is putting out the call for donations.

When it opens, The Share Shop will be a bricks and mortar establishment which will offer its members access to goods – they kind of things you might only use a couple of times a year – like a sewing machine, a grinder, food dehydrator and tools. 

“The basic concept is to be a retail outlet where you can borrow things, just like a library,” Ms Thomson said. 

“Things you use infrequently, so you don’t necessary use them all the time, but you want to use them some of the time.

“What we stock will depend on the donations we get, but the idea is you become a member and then have access to a whole range of things.” 

The Share Shop concept is all about sustainable living. 

“There is a lot of waste associated with how we consume at the moment,” Ms Thomson said. 

“And I would like more space at home; I would like to live a more efficient life.

“The idea of having something sitting in the cupboard at home for nine months of the year not getting used isn’t really appealing.”

Ms Thomson said she would be donating her family’s camping equipment, her husband’s surfboard and other goods currently not getting much love. 

However, for the project to work it will require the community to back it. 

“We want it to be a real community space,” Ms Thomson said. 

The organisation, which is incorporated, estimates it will need 300 members to be sustainable. 

Once the inventory of goods is complete, the next step will be to find a retail space to set up shop.

It is expected to open its doors mid-year. 

Anyone with goods they would like to donate to The Share Shop should get in touch via their Facebook page: facebook.com/TheShareShopNewy