The people who keep the door open
Restore is not a building or a logo. It is the people inside. The ones who sort donations before the shop opens. The ones who remember your name. The ones who put the kettle on without being asked and sit with someone who needed the company more than the cup of tea. This is who they are.
The people who show up
Behind every Restore shop and programme, there is a team of volunteers. They sort donations, serve customers, run workshops, make coffee and do the hundred small things that keep the doors open and the welcome warm.
Some have been with us for years. Some started last month. Some came in looking for something to do and found something they did not expect: a place where they are needed, valued and part of something that matters.
Restore is led by a team of trustees, run by a small team of staff, and carried by a growing community of volunteers. They work side by side: sorting and displaying donated items, serving customers, and taking time to get alongside the people who come through the doors.
They are the ones who start conversations, notice when someone has not been in for a while, and build the kind of atmosphere that makes people want to come back. Not because they are trained to. Because they care.
Staff
Finn Wildhill
Restore General Manager
Finn joined Restore in 2023, bringing a background in retail management alongside a long history as Chair of Trustees and events coordinator for a children's charity. He is passionate about community and has worked hard to make Restore a positive and welcoming place for staff and volunteers alike. Since joining, Finn has driven new initiatives to bring people together across Carlisle and Eden, and has overseen the development of Restore's growing presence in the area, including the opening of a new flagship store.
Chris Harwood
Restore Chaplain and Pioneer Enabler
Chris grew up in Bournemouth and began his career as a detached youth worker before being ordained as a Pioneer Vicar in the Church of England. After completing his curacy in Poole, he is now Pioneer Enabler for New Monasticism in Cumbria. Within Restore, Chris works to build community around the practices of hospitality, simplicity, peace, and prayer. He lives in Cumbria with his wife Emma and their two children, Ava and Jake, and enjoys running, climbing mountains, and growing food.
Dr Garry Ion
CMS Mission Partner
Garry spent 25 years working in mission and community development across East Africa and South Sudan. A consultant building engineer by trade, he helped design and build over 100 schools in the region. He was awarded an honorary doctorate by the University of Bolton in 2011. Now back in Cumbria, Garry runs Community Shed groups, putting decades of practical skills and life experience to good use.
Melanie Clark
Restore Morton Shop Manager
Melanie has worked closely with General Manager Finn to develop the Morton store, creating a brilliant new layout with a dedicated focus on children's toys and clothing. With a background in charity retail and a genuine passion for people, she is well suited to managing both the shop and its community space. Outside of work, Melanie is devoted to her family and her three Cavalier King Charles Spaniels, and is always happiest when surrounded by the people and animals she loves.
Lorraine Wilson
Restore Penrith Manager
Lorraine manages Restore's Penrith shop and is well known for her eye-catching window displays, which regularly draw compliments from locals and tourists alike. She holds a degree in Zoology, Ecology and Conservation, and brings a deep passion for the environment and her local community to everything she does. An animal lover, Lorraine shares her home with two dogs and several cats. She loves spending time in the great outdoors and is committed to both community and environmental causes.
Jackie Gillen
Restore Petteril Bank Manager
Jackie has spent most of her working life in retail, with experience in bookselling and women's clothing across Aberdeen and London. She joined the charity sector to give something back to her local community, bringing with her experience managing another charity shop in Carlisle before joining Restore. Jackie is a familiar and valued presence for both customers and volunteers. Outside of work, she enjoys reading, gardening, going to the gym, and visiting her local climbing wall.
Helen Dixon
Restore Carlisle Manager
Helen joined Restore in 2022, initially working part-time in the office before stepping into her current role as full-time Store Manager in 2025. She is currently undertaking a Chartered Business Management Apprenticeship at the University of Cumbria, building on a strong background in hospitality and retail management. Helen is passionate about making a meaningful impact in the local Carlisle community. Outside of work, she enjoys walking, exploring the outdoors, and discovering local food and drink producers.
Andrea
Restore Morton Assistant Manager
Emma
Restore Carlisle Assistant Manager
Emma brings a varied background spanning retail, care, and administration to her role as Assistant Manager at Restore. After spending time in administrative work, she found herself missing a closer connection with the community, something her current role provides in abundance. She loves working in a way that reflects her ethical values and being part of a welcoming, friendly team. Outside of work, Emma enjoys spending time with her two children, gaming, going to gigs, and is currently absorbed in knitting.
Ewa
Restore Penrith Assistant Manager
The people who steer it
Restore's Board of Trustees brings together people from across Cumbria and beyond, each with their own story of how they ended up here. They give their time voluntarily to make sure the charity stays true to its purpose and keeps growing in the right direction.
Bryan Gray
Chair
Born in Yorkshire, Bryan moved around with work before settling in the Eden Valley over ten years ago. He is an Anglican Lay Minister, a Methodist Lay Preacher and a Lay Canon of Carlisle Cathedral. He was chairman of Westmorland Motorway Services until a couple of years ago, and currently chairs the Lowther Castle and Gardens charitable trust. He enjoys supporting the Settle Carlisle railway.
Chris Bray
Trustee
Chris moved to Cumbria in 2016 establishing a variety of cafes, shops and charity interests in the area. His interests are in helping the local communities and looking after our natural environment and Restore is a great fit with his mission to help others and to re-use and re-purpose goods. Chris also works with Another Way and the Settle and Carlisle Railway.
Duncan Walker
Trustee
Duncan was born in Knutsford, Cheshire, where he volunteered in a charity shop before moving to Durham University. He then started working for Procter and Gamble in Newcastle. In a variety of locations across the UK and Europe, Duncan held positions in IT, Purchasing, Finance and Internal Audit. As a Management Accountant and Independent Examiner, he also has experience in Sports Club Management and the 3rd Sector with a consortium of advice charities in Derbyshire. Since moving to Penrith in 2010, Duncan has been involved locally as Finance Officer in the formation of the Eden Credit Union and Chair of Churches Together in Penrith. He is married to Sally and has a daughter Emily. Two of his passions are Church Bellringing and Fell Walking.
Andrew Burrell
Trustee
Andrew was born in Milburn, Cumbria. He went to school in Appleby and then Teesside Polytechnic. Eventually he moved down to London and after a few roles and training to be a Catholic priest he ended up working for a US data warehouse corporation. He was there for 20 plus years, and in his final role he was the European director of consulting for the commercial businesses. Now he is the Company Founder and Director of Enable Success, a technology consultancy focused on digital transformation. Andrew is a self-supporting minister within the East of Eden Mission Community, and has recently completed a diploma in Theology and has an MA in philosophy from Heythrope College, University of London. He is currently doing an MSc in Digital Transformation with Hull University. He loves cycling and walking in the Eden Valley.
Coming Soon
Trustee
Photo and bio coming soon.
Coming Soon
Trustee
Photo and bio coming soon.
There is always room for one more
If you would like to get involved with Restore, whether as a volunteer, a supporter, or someone who just wants to know more, we would love to hear from you.