Volunteers dress to impress at the Palace … resplendent in their charity shop outfits

CHARITY supporters in Oban who have been invited to a royal garden party hosted by the Queen will celebrate in style – by attending the event wearing clothes donated to the charity shop where they volunteer.

After the royal occasion at the Palace of Holyroodhouse, the team at the Mary’s Meals shop in Oban plan to resell the clothes, complete with a little message to say the outfits have been worn to the royal occasion.

Mary’s Meals is a Scottish-based charity which serves life- changing daily meals to impoverished children living in some of the world’s poorest countries, attracting them to the classroom where they can get an education that can be their ladder out of poverty.

The charity has seven shops in Scotland – mainly run by volunteers – which sell donated goods to raise vital funds. Marie Rowan, shop manager in Oban, will join 19 of the shop’s volunteers at the royal garden party in Edinburgh on July 4.

The team agreed a fitting way to represent the work of Mary’s Meals on the special day was to wear as much as they could from items donated to the shop.

Marie said: ‘I’m so happy for the team – this invitation is a wonderful recognition of the volunteers who will be attending the royal event, and of all our volunteers. They work tirelessly and give their time so freely to help us make a difference to some of the world’s poorest children.

‘We want to celebrate Mary’s Meals as much as we can at the palace, which is why we have decided to wear the outfits from our Oban shop.

‘Hopefully, we will show that we can look just as good wearing upcycled goods, even at an event with the Queen.’

Christina Litster, 75, who has volunteered at the Oban shop for the past seven years, added: ‘It is an absolute honour to have been asked to go to the Queen’s garden party.

‘I feel so lucky and excited. I have already looked out a lovely purple jacket and skirt suit to wear on the day. I can’t wait!’

Mary’s Meals provides 1,230,171 children in 14 countries with a daily meal every school day.

The charity’s average global cost to feed a child for a whole school year is just £13.90.

Where Mary’s Meals is provided, there is a rise in rates of enrolment, attendance and academic performance.