After losing my dad, I built Wings World in his memory.

Many people don’t realise that Wing is our family name. Wings World wasn’t just the name of a business, it was a piece of our family’s story, built to honour my dad and everything he taught me.

What started as a small idea became something so much bigger than a business. It became a community.

Every day, we helped keep hundreds of items of clothing in circulation and out of landfill by giving them a second life. We made fashion affordable, with amazing finds starting from just £1, and created a space where people felt welcome, supported and connected. Many of our customers became friends, and many of our friends became family.

This week, everything changed.

A devastating fire destroyed Wings World.

Years of hard work, stock, equipment, laptops, iPads, fixtures, personal belongings and memories were lost overnight. The fire and subsequent explosions in neighbouring units left nothing behind. Everything was destroyed.

But some of the hardest things to lose can’t be replaced.

I don’t have many things left from my dad, and some of the personal items and memorabilia I kept to remember him were also lost in the fire. Losing those pieces of him has been heartbreaking.

After losing my dad, Wings World gave me purpose. It helped me turn grief into something positive that could help others, support our community and create something I know he would have been proud of.

The support we’ve received since the fire has been overwhelming. So many people have messaged, shared our story and asked how they can help.

This fundraiser will help us begin rebuilding, replacing essential equipment, recovering from the losses caused by the fire and giving Wings World a chance to continue serving the community that means so much to us.

Every donation, share and kind message helps more than you know.

Thank you for believing in Wings World, in our family, and in the community we’ve built together.

This fire may have taken away our building, but it hasn’t taken away what Wings World stands for.

With your support, we’ll rebuild.