Visitors to Emmaus Bolton’s upcycling workshop transformed textiles into energy-efficient household items thanks to our very handy Scrap Store resource.
Emmaus Bolton’s ‘Scrap Store’ offers a range of recycled fabric and other art and craft supplies on Fletcher Street, off Derby Street opposite the University of Bolton.
To celebrate reuse during national Repair Week, everyone attending the workshop was invited to choose their own fabric for free.
Workshop participant, Sarah Platt, from Bolton said: “It’s been a great, lovely introductory course for making my own draught excluder.
“At the moment my heater’s not working, so it will be a godsend. I’ve really enjoyed it. Just a quick one-hour workshop and I’ve managed to make a full item. There’s a great team here. They’re lovely people to meet as well.”
Emmaus Bolton is one of Greater Manchester’s first charities to reuse end-of-line, donated and surplus items in this way to reduce landfill and benefit the local community.
All money raised from the sale of used items at Emmaus Bolton helps raise the vital funding needed by the charity to provide a home, work experience and opportunities for people with experience of homelessness.
Workshop leader, Becca Coleman, volunteers every Friday at Emmaus Bolton. She turns fabric into new exciting items to go on sale and helps prepare textiles to go on the shelves.
Becca said: “The Scrap Store is a brilliant resource for anyone thinking about starting a new hobby or sourcing art and craft for a project they are passionate about.
“You’ll find a range of goods to bring your hobby to life, from sewing to scrap booking. The upcycling session was great way to demonstrate what we do to help people get started on their journeys towards making something new.”
Emmaus Bolton Scrap Store is open on Fletcher Street during the opening hours of all the charity’s shops and services, which include a café, from 9-5pm Monday to Friday and 10-4pm on Saturdays.
To find out more about Emmaus Bolton’s shops, services and events, you can visit www.emmaus.org.uk/bolton/our-shops.