- 3 mins read time
- Published: 3rd April 2025
More Than a Job: How Working at Oxfam Led to a Creative Friendship
Employees and volunteers are the backbone of our network of shops, as well as an important part of the public face of our organisation. Volunteering and working in Oxfam’s stores has many benefits, one of which is fostering friendships and connections.
Two employees from our Ringsend shop, Rosie Spiro and Patrycja Pawela, met while working together.
Rosie is a musician in a band called Trinkets, a five-piece band who met in Ballyfermot College of Further Education. They take inspiration from Radiohead, Kate Bush and Glass Animals.
Patrycja is a tattoo artist and designer. Rosie and Patrycja’s connection in Oxfam led to a collaboration where Patrycja created the artwork for Trinkets' latest EP, “I am, you are.”
Read how they both describe the benefits of working with Oxfam, including the opportunity to connect with others and support personal passions, all while they help to create real change in the fight for a just and sustainable world.
Why did you decide to work at Oxfam?
“I think I just really liked what Oxfam stands for and what they raise money for as well. And I just really wanted to be part of that."— Rosie
“It's different than regular retail. I worked in retail before, I knew I liked working with clothes in general, so I just applied for this position. And yeah, I'm really happy with the results.”— Patrycja
What are your highlights of working in the shop?
“The best part of working in the shop is getting to know the team and all the volunteers."— Rosie
"I would say the people and all sorts of customers and all the items the shop gets in, because there's so many things that are so different that you cannot find them anywhere else.”— Patrycja
How did the idea for Patricja to design the cover art for the band’s EP come about?
“I needed an artist. I kind of needed someone with a specific style and you can kind of get that from how Patricia dresses and presents herself. I knew she did tattoos as well, so I saw her tattoos beforehand and that kind of solidified it.”— Rosie
What was it like working together on the design?
“I think it was amazing. I'm really happy with it. I was just pleasure to do.”— Patrycja
Was Oxfam a place you felt you could meet like-minded people and collaborate on projects?
“Absolutely. It's just a really welcoming space and especially in our shop. There's something quite special about it.”— Rosie
“I feel like I can always talk to everyone, about everything. It’s just different. It's more like friends and good people around, and it just feels nice to work in a place like that.”— Patrycja
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