Emmaus Mossley has launched a series of reuse workshops supported by the Greater Manchester Environment Fund.
On 2 March, a group of eight learners began a Basic Upholstery Workshop – the first of their monthly reuse workshops. The next events are a Furniture Decoupage Workshop during April, a Wood Repair & Reuse Workshop in May and a Trash to Treasure Workshop throughout June.
The workshops are heavily subsidised by the Suez Recycle for Greater Manchester Community Fund, part of the wider Greater Manchester Environment Fund (GMEF). The funding enables Emmaus Mossley to offer the workshops for only £20 for all four sessions. This cost covers the cost of lunch and refreshments on each of the days.
Hazel Hodkinson, Retail Manager at Emmaus Mossley, said: “Our four beginners workshops will teach people a range of skills to make use of everyday items and materials. The workshops will be led by creative practitioners who share our mission to reuse as much as we can.
“We’re extremely grateful to Greater Manchester Environment Fund, Recycle for Greater Manchester and Suez for their kind support to help us encourage more people to reuse, repair and upcycle rather than throwing away.”
Emmaus Mossley supports 26 formerly homeless people by providing them with a home, work, companionship and individual support. The majority of our income is raised from our large Secondhand Superstore which sells donated and refurbished furniture, clothes, bric-a-brac and vintage items.
Supporting a more sustainable future
Formed through a partnership between Greater Manchester Combined Authority, Lancashire Wildlife Trust and Finance Earth, the GMEF is the UK’s first regional environmental impact fund. GMEF will benefit the region socially, environmentally and financially by funding for projects to tackle urgent environmental challenges facing the city region including air pollution, devastation of habitats and risks from climate change.
The workshops will run for four weeks and are limited to eight learners each. All items, materials and tools are provided along with lunch and refreshments.