I first heard about Emmaus South Manchester when I was doing an upholstery course and needed a workbench and some shelving to accommodate my new equipment and supplies. The Emmaus team were able to identify and deliver exactly what I needed and I took the opportunity to find out more about the charity and the Emporium in Wythenshawe.
I wanted to get involved to share my skills, give something back to the local community and help to generate additional income for the charity. When I joined the team in October 2022, I initially helped to set up a dedicated upcycling and upholstery workshop adjacent to the Emmaus Emporium. A room that was previously used for storage is now equipped with three workbenches, a painting and repair area plus storage for tools, paint and fabric.
Sharing skills with others
I have trained several volunteers in basic upholstery techniques and made them aware of issues relating to health and safety so they are able to complete projects independently. Over three months, the team has upcycled over 20 items of furniture that have been made available for sale in the Emporium. As everything we use is donated, we can get really adventurous with colour and pattern, creating some unique pieces that you simply can’t find anywhere else.
The thing I have enjoyed most about volunteering with Emmaus is working alongside the other volunteers, sharing knowledge and skills while developing friendships. As well as boosting my confidence, seeing items that would have ended up in landfill brought back to life so they can enhance someone’s home is really rewarding. We’ve repaired, sanded, varnished, painted and upholstered everything from dining chairs to footstools. Most recently, we gave a new lease of life to a couple of very stylish rocking chairs that had definitely seen better days.
As people look at ways to live more sustainably, preloved and upcycled products are becoming more popular and I think this trend is only going to increase. It’s great to know that something I’ve created will help to support people experiencing homelessness in South Manchester and I would recommend volunteering to anyone who wants to learn something new or has skills they want to share. There are lots of opportunities to get involved and with the radio on and cups of tea aplenty, the Emporium is definitely one of my favourite places to be.