Meet Cara, Assistant Manager at the funkiest charity shop in Edinburgh
Cara has been part of community impact projects for years, long before she stepped into her role as Assistant Manager at The Bothy Boutique, the retail arm of one of Carlowrie Group’s charities. Carlowrie Group Communications Intern, Sara Elder spoke to Cara about her journey in supporting the charity.
From creativity comes connection
Raised between East Lothian and Edinburgh, Cara moved fulltime to the city five years ago to study at Edinburgh Napier University. She soon graduated with a BA (Hons) in Film, specialising in set design. From an early age, Cara gravitated toward creative and community-driven work. Alongside her studies, she gained experience in retail and events, volunteered with local organisations such as Perfectly Edible and the Dunbar Street Art Trail, and provided free photography and videography during lockdown to support local businesses. She also contributed to youth-focused creative organisations including Jupiter Artland’s Orbit Youth Council and Daydream Believers.
Her connection to The Breakfast Bothy, a Carlowrie Group charity, began through her dad, Tim. Tim had already been involved in the charity, supporting people experiencing homelessness from the brightly coloured police box at The Meadows. Cara decided to direct a short documentary about one of the Bothy’s guests during her first year of university, an experience that deepened her passion for amplifying unheard voices and advocating for community care.
The idea for The Bothy Boutique charity shop
The idea for what would become Edinburgh’s funkiest charity shop began to take shape when Cara realised that her combined experience in retail, events, and her specialist degree in set design could meaningfully support the Bothy’s mission. When the charity began discussing the possibility of opening a shop to help fund its work, she knew immediately that she wanted to play a role in bringing it to life.
By coincidence, Cara stumbled upon the future property during a lunch break while working on a film shoot. She snapped a few quick photos and shared the idea with the team. From there, she helped transform the concept into reality, creating layout mock-ups, shaping the shop’s visual identity, and contributing creative direction that helped define the Boutique’s warm and welcoming character.
Today, The Bothy Boutique is a popular charity shop with high quality items at affordable prices. Profits from The Bothy Boutique help fund:
• Hot meals served daily at The Breakfast Bothy
• Free haircuts
• Bicycle repairs
• Sleeping bags, tents, and essential survival items
These efforts ensure that people experiencing homelessness receive the support they need, exactly when they need it.
Cara’s favourite parts of the job
Cara is driven by the people she meets every day. She loves chatting with regulars, getting to know Bothy guests, and being part of a community that has grown alongside The Boutique. Her creativity continues to play a central role: she designs all posters, graphics and promotional materials for the shop, manages its online sales, and is currently working on developing new merchandise, including T-shirt designs.
Inside the charity shop, she supports everything from volunteer management and pricing to organisation and day-to-day admin. For Cara, being part of The Bothy’s growth has been a privilege, and she feels deeply proud to witness how far the charity has come.
Her passion, initiative and creative skillset embody the values at the heart of Carlowrie Group: empowering communities, supporting vulnerable individuals, and building spaces that help people thrive.
How you can get involved
There are several ways that you can get involved and support The Breakfast Bothy and The Bothy Boutique.
• Donate pre-loved items to the shop. Your donations help fund meals and essential services for over 200 guests every week.
• Shop in store or online. Find The Bothy Boutique at 134 Marchmont Road, Edinburgh, or online here.
• Spread the wordÂ
You can also make a financial contribution to help us continue to support people who are experiencing homelessness in Edinburgh here.
