Scrap Store will make a difference

14 Oct 2021 10:45
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DAMIEN Wilton from BBC One's The Great British Sewing Bee highlighted the difference people's purchases will make at the opening of a Bolton homelessness charity's new craft supplies store.

He also presented the charity with the gift of an upcycled outfit that he made during Recycling Week on the show.

The IT installation engineer from Bolton cut the ribbon at the Scrap Store opening, cheered on by the formerly homeless people, who are supported by Emmaus Bolton's social enterprise, as well as volunteers, staff, trustees and partners at Derby Barracks on Fletcher Street.

The denim dress Damien made during his TV appearance will be on show for public viewing at Emmaus Bolton, which provides meaningful work, training and accommodation for up to 22 people who have experienced homelessness or social exclusion.

Damien said: "There's so much going on at Emmaus Bolton. It's a place that accepts people with experience of homelessness for who they are and helps them get back into the world.

"But it's also a social supermarket, a garden centre, cafe and somewhere making and selling second hand and new goods and furniture. When I saw the wood workshop, I really wanted t have a go!

"Before going on Sewing Bee I bought second-hand clothes and altered them to fit. I didn't even think of deconstructing clothes and making something practical to wear.

"What Emmaus Bolton does is great because volunteers at the recycling centre are reusing cold clothes people don't want any more to sell on as fabric.

"I got a few items of material, buttons and thread from the Scrap Store to show that you can make something good from recycled material. You could say, I've learned a lot from being on the show, like lots of different techniques and how to put things together and make them aesthetically pleasing."

The new Scrap Store stocks a wide range of reclaimed art, craft and textile supplies available to schools, artisans and community groups.

Those have been turned into saleable items by volunteers from donations made by the local community at Emmaus Bolton's recycling centre, paid for by The Bolton Fund and Emmaus UK.

Director Tony Stephenson said: "Emmaus Bolton has a proud history of self-sufficiency, so my thanks go to our community of charity beneficiaries, volunteers, trustees and staff, who have worked incredibly hard to make our Scrap Store happen.

"Our success relies on your donations, so we are incredibly grateful to the Bolton star of The Great British Sewing Bee, Damien, for opening the Scrap Store as well as the generous donation of the outfit he made on TV. We hope you all make a date to come and see the dress and browse our store."

Emmaus Bolton and the new Scrap Store is open from Monday to Friday 8:30am - 5pm and Saturdays from 10am - 4pm. To find out more about the charity, visit: www.emmaus.org.uk/bolton.

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