About Us

WELCOME TO GREEN HEART COLLECTIVE

THE GREEN HEART COLLECTIVE STORY

Founded by Andy and Helen Redfern, Green Heart Collective was created in December 2019 and began selling as Green Heart online via Amazon, eBay, Vinted and Depop throughout 2020. From 4 January 2021, Green Heart Collective was based in a warehouse in Team Valley, Gateshead. We moved premises in August 2023 and opened a new independent preloved shop at 231 High Street, Gateshead, NE8 1AS. The warehouse is now housed above the shop and continues to trade online on eBay and the Green Heart Collective website.

Green Heart Collective is a trading division and wholly owned subsidiary of Green Heart NE CIC. Green Heart NE CIC exists to create a resilient and diverse network of individuals and organisations in Gateshead, all committed to creativity, community and sustainability, with a particular focus on the regeneration of Gateshead High Street. Going forward, Green Heart NE CIC will support and encourage other makers in the area, as well as continuing to upcycle, reuse, rework and recycle whatever comes our way in collaboration with other local organisations.

The Green Heart shop is the in person presence of Green Heart Collective. Green Heart encompasses everything that happens in person in the Green Heart shop and yarden. This includes the Transformation Challenge, Sellers Markets, workshops, the Late Shows, Clothes Swaps etc. Helen Redfern is the Green Heart Shop Manager. You can find out more about the Green Heart shop.

MEET THE FOUNDERS

Andy and Helen have been exploring together what it is to live and work in an ethical and sustainable way for over 30 years. From those early days of running fair trade stalls and buying ARK household cleaning products through to recent climate activism, the pair have always sought to live life with a green heart.

Green Heart Collective grew from a deep passion to respond in a practical way to the stark reality of the climate emergency that the planet is facing right now. The pair know that they cannot do this alone and need a community of like-minded people to join them on this journey of courageous action, conscious choices and shared experience.

Andy brings his many years of experience as an IT expert in online ethical retail and Helen brings her experience in retail and community work, her copywriting skills and her huge passion for clothes, creativity, and this wonderful world in which we live. Together, their vision is to create a joyful space with a green heart, modelling sustainable consumerism.

To get to know Andy and Helen better, read their interview here.

For Andy Redfern’s full bio, click here.

For Helen Redfern’s full bio, click here.

MEET THE TEAM

Helen Redfern, Creative Director

Helen is a French graduate with commercial bricks and mortar retail experience with Asda and online retail experience with Ethical Superstore and Yogamatters. She brings a passion for fashion and is an accomplished community organiser. She was a co-founder of Green Heart Collective in 2019. 

Andy Redfern, Operations & Tech Director

Andy is an Electronics graduate with 30 plus years of retail, management, NGO and social enterprise experience. He has been an executive director at Traidcraft plc, Ethical Superstore and Yogamatters. He has served as non-exec for Cafedirect, Team Valley Links cic and British Association of Fair Trade Shops. He was a co-founder of Green Heart Collective in 2019. 

Declan Wiseman, Marketing & Customer Service Lead

Declan is an English graduate and has a Masters in Journalism and has social media and writing experience across a diverse range of businesses and other organisations. He has led the online and social presence of Green Heart for 3 years. 

Sarah Winslett, Design & Product Lead

Sarah is a Fashion Communication graduate and has a master’s degree in Photography. She has online and in-store retail experience working at END., Fenwick and others and has led the photographic and design areas of Green Heart for 3 years. 

This small and dedicated team is supported by more than ten enthusiastic and invaluable volunteers from diverse backgrounds with diverse skills. 

EXPLORE THE VISION

Here at Green Heart, our vision is best described as highly adaptive, as we respond to what is before us. However, the following five objectives will always be at the heart of everything we do.

• CREATE A SUSTAINABLE AND TRANSPARENT SOCIAL ENTERPRISE
• REDUCE WASTE
• CHALLENGE OVERCONSUMPTION
• BUILD A COMMUNITY
• TAKE ACTION

OUR VALUES

Our values underpin all that we do: all the decisions we make, every interaction we have, every action we take. These shared values are the foundation we intend to build Green Heart Collective upon.

RESPECT

• We will put people and planet before profit.
• We will treat everyone we meet with the same level of respect.
• We will listen and value each contribution.

COMPASSION

• We will show compassion for all living things, including ourselves.
• We will consider rest and wellbeing as important as hard work and achievement.
• We will allow time and space for kindness and connection.

INTEGRITY

• We will tell the truth as we see it and not hold back.
• We will be transparent and accountable.
• We will admit our mistakes and endeavour to put things right where possible.

COURAGE

• We will try new ways of doing things.
• We will stand up for what is right and speak out for those who have no voice.
• We will challenge the existing state of affairs.