Green Planet by Sutton Community Champions is based in Oru Sutton on the High Street, next to Zero Waste Sutton.
Green Planet is an accessible hub for books, CDs, movies, costumes, and a small selection of food.
All items are reasonably priced, and visitors are encouraged to donate or swap items, creating a sustainable cycle of reuse and giving.
Sean, a volunteer at Green Planet, told Your Local Guardian: “Everything is reasonably priced because we want the community to benefit.
“We have a book section, a CD section, a movie section, and even a small food section.
“If someone needs food, they can help themselves.
“All we ask for is a small donation, and it all goes back into the community.”
The project is designed to encourage participation from people of all ages, with a particular focus on young children.
Children can bring in books or other items to swap, earning points that allow them to exchange for other items.
Sean added: “What we try to do is make it swap, swap, swap.
“A small donation helps pay the bills to keep the lights on in here, and if we can get young people involved, hopefully they grow up understanding the value of giving, swapping, and helping the community.”
In addition to its swap and donation initiatives, Green Planet also hires out costumes for children’s parties at affordable rates, providing families with access to themed outfits without the expense of buying them outright.
The initiative hopes that by offering such practical solutions, families will engage more with community activities and events.
Green Planet is connected with other charitable and community organisations both across the UK and internationally.
The hub is largely run by volunteers, with Sean saying: “I help tidy, price items, and support the community for a few hours a week.
“I’m not part of the management team, but I love being involved and seeing the direct impact on people.”
Donations are sometimes sent abroad, and other organisations reciprocate by sending items back.
This network helps maximise the impact of the project and ensures that resources reach those who need them most.
All items are clearly labelled, and pricing is displayed so that shoppers know exactly what they are paying for.
The volunteer added: “We want people to see that this is a genuine community hub.
“There’s no hiding, no funny business, no unreasonable prices.
“Everything we do is about supporting the community and encouraging participation.”
The initiative has seen positive engagement from the local community, with regular visitors returning to swap items, donate, or simply browse the selection.
Green Planet hopes that its approach will inspire other communities to adopt similar models, fostering sustainability, generosity, and a stronger sense of local connection.
There’s even a swap section for books, where the volunteers will give the children something to read.
Sean said he hopes that the younger generation will see swapping as the norm.
Green Planet is open multiple days a week, with volunteers dedicating time to maintaining the space, managing swaps, and assisting visitors.
