Choose Love Opens Summer Shop at Borough Yards This June
A New Summer Initiative Comes to South London
For the first time in its history, Choose Love is bringing a dedicated summer pop-up shop to Borough Yards, marking a significant expansion of the charity’s year-round fundraising efforts. Running from 9th to 28th June 2026, the Summer Shop represents the organisation’s response to a pressing global crisis: millions of refugees and displaced people facing life-threatening conditions during extreme heat waves.
Borough Yards, nestled near the iconic Borough Market and within walking distance of Tower Bridge and the Thames, sits at the heart of one of London’s most vibrant community spaces. The venue’s location makes it an ideal destination for both local residents and visitors exploring the South Bank. Choose Love selected this particular neighbourhood deliberately—it’s a hub where socially conscious Londoners naturally congregate, creating the perfect environment to connect supporters with meaningful action. The Summer Shop will occupy prime space within Borough Yards, transforming the venue into a hub of humanitarian awareness and charitable giving during the crucial summer months when global temperatures peak and vulnerable populations face their greatest challenges.
What You’ll Find Inside and How to Support
Walking into the Choose Love Summer Shop, visitors will discover far more than a typical charity retail experience. Designed by acclaimed designer Misty Buckley, the space thoughtfully showcases products and services that directly address summer emergencies facing displaced communities worldwide. Shoppers can purchase items ranging from sun protection supplies for children to funding for clean water access, emergency medical care, safe shelter construction, and critical search-and-rescue operations.
The shop features an exclusive summer merchandise collection curated by renowned fashion designer Katharine Hamnett, offering stylish pieces that align with the charity’s mission. Beyond shopping, Choose Love has programmed special events throughout the three-week period, creating multiple reasons for locals to visit. Given the charity’s impressive roster of celebrity supporters—who’ve previously volunteered at winter pop-ups—there’s genuine potential for unexpected encounters with familiar faces. Last year’s winter shop alone raised over £1.1 million for global aid efforts, demonstrating the generosity of London’s charitable community and the impact concentrated fundraising can achieve in relatively short timeframes.
Community Action and What Happens Next
For South London residents and regular visitors to areas around Trafalgar Square and central attractions, the Summer Shop represents an accessible way to make tangible international impact without leaving the neighbourhood. Every purchase directly funds life-saving interventions for refugees experiencing heat-related crises—from providing cooling stations to distributing hydration supplies in refugee camps worldwide.
Community members can visit Borough Yards between 9th and 28th June to shop, attend events, or simply learn more about global displacement challenges. Choose Love’s co-founder Josie Fernandez-Marelli emphasises that the initiative embodies solidarity and compassionate action during a critical moment. For those unable to visit in person, choose.love provides additional information about supporting the cause. Local businesses and organisations in the Borough and surrounding areas should watch for collaborative opportunities. The initiative demonstrates how London’s established neighbourhood gathering spaces can serve broader humanitarian purposes while strengthening community bonds. Keep an eye on Choose Love’s communications for announced celebrity appearances and special event dates—these details typically generate significant foot traffic and fundraising momentum during the summer season.
