How to Dispose of Unwanted Items : by Linda Seward
A lively discussion took place after a Regional Day talk about what to do with craft-related items that are no longer needed. Here are suggestions about where to go and who to contact to dispose of your fabrics, books and other quilt supplies:
WorkAid: A charity in Chesham, Buckinghamshire with a team of volunteers who refurbish tools and then send them to vocational training projects in Africa and the UK. They accept haberdashery items, craft materials and sewing machines. The workshop is at 71 Townsend Road, Chesham HP5 2AA, and they are open Mondays to Fridays. Website: https://workaid.org
TWAM I Tools with a Mission: They collect, refurbish and pack sewing and knitting machines of various types, complete with supplies that are needed to start a business and produce enough goods to then go on to purchase more supplies. Website: https://www.twam.uk/sewing-and-knitting
Scrapstore: They are interested in both commercial and domestic donations of: paper, fabric, card, plastic, widgets, buttons, trimmings, carpet samples, wallpaper, fine wire, tubing, rope, surplus art supplies and window dressings – almost anything that is left-over, clean and re-useable and would otherwise go to incineration, land-fill or long-term storage. There is a comprehensive list of items on their website. https://www.workandplayscrapstore.org.uk/donations
Tooting Scrap Scheme: The Work and Play Scrapstore is based in Tooting, South London. It’s a voluntary organisation and re-use charity and has a wide assortment of clean materials for art, craft, design or creative play. Website:
http://westlondonwaste.gov.uk/take-action/work-play-scrapstore-2/
Reuseful UK: Reuseful UK has been set up by members of the scrapstore community to support the reuse of unwanted resources for the benefit of children and communities. Clean reusable scrap materials are made available for children to play with through a network of independent 'scrapstores' across the UK. Website: https://www.reusefuluk.org
London Community Resource Network: Community-based solutions for waste prevention, recycling and re-use across the capital.
Website: http://lcrn.org.uk
The Children's University (CU) Trust: A charitable trust that provides 7 to 14-year olds (and 5 to 6 year olds with their families) with exciting and innovative learning activities and experiences outside normal school hours. Will accept craft donations such as sewing fabric, needles, thread, machines and gadgets. Here are local contacts:
South East London Children's University: [email protected]
Lambeth Children's University: [email protected]
East London: [email protected]
West London: [email protected]
Hammersmith and Fulham: [email protected]
Project Linus: A volunteer organisation that aims to provide a sense of security and comfort to sick and traumatised babies, children and teenagers through the provision of new home-made patchwork quilts and knitted blankets, and give volunteers across the UK the opportunity to contribute to their local community.
Website: https://projectlinusuk.org.uk
Young Quilters: Perhaps bring items to regional days to give to YQ reps. Website: http://www.youngquilters.org.uk
The National Needlework Archive, Newbury: To contribute unique artefacts or books related to needlework.
Website: https://www.nationalneedleworkarchive.org.uk
Recyclenow: Clothes and textiles that are in good condition can be donated and sold for re-use. Items that aren’t suitable to be passed onto someone else can be recycled and made into new items, such as padding for chairs and car seats, cleaning cloths and industrial blankets.
Website: https://www.recyclenow.com/what-to-do-with/clothing-textiles-0
NextDoor: A way to get in touch with your neighbours to advertise items that you would like to give away or sell. Local people will contact you and arrange to come and collect what you are giving/selling:
Website: https://nextdoor.co.uk/about_us
Other Ideas:
Contact local schools and churches .The popular activity “messy church” can always use leftover fabrics etc.
Ask your local charity shop if they will put your scraps in with their ‘rags’ or for larger sized pieces made up in colour or themed fabric in see through bags for them to sell.
WorkAid: A charity in Chesham, Buckinghamshire with a team of volunteers who refurbish tools and then send them to vocational training projects in Africa and the UK. They accept haberdashery items, craft materials and sewing machines. The workshop is at 71 Townsend Road, Chesham HP5 2AA, and they are open Mondays to Fridays. Website: https://workaid.org
TWAM I Tools with a Mission: They collect, refurbish and pack sewing and knitting machines of various types, complete with supplies that are needed to start a business and produce enough goods to then go on to purchase more supplies. Website: https://www.twam.uk/sewing-and-knitting
Scrapstore: They are interested in both commercial and domestic donations of: paper, fabric, card, plastic, widgets, buttons, trimmings, carpet samples, wallpaper, fine wire, tubing, rope, surplus art supplies and window dressings – almost anything that is left-over, clean and re-useable and would otherwise go to incineration, land-fill or long-term storage. There is a comprehensive list of items on their website. https://www.workandplayscrapstore.org.uk/donations
Tooting Scrap Scheme: The Work and Play Scrapstore is based in Tooting, South London. It’s a voluntary organisation and re-use charity and has a wide assortment of clean materials for art, craft, design or creative play. Website:
http://westlondonwaste.gov.uk/take-action/work-play-scrapstore-2/
Reuseful UK: Reuseful UK has been set up by members of the scrapstore community to support the reuse of unwanted resources for the benefit of children and communities. Clean reusable scrap materials are made available for children to play with through a network of independent 'scrapstores' across the UK. Website: https://www.reusefuluk.org
London Community Resource Network: Community-based solutions for waste prevention, recycling and re-use across the capital.
Website: http://lcrn.org.uk
The Children's University (CU) Trust: A charitable trust that provides 7 to 14-year olds (and 5 to 6 year olds with their families) with exciting and innovative learning activities and experiences outside normal school hours. Will accept craft donations such as sewing fabric, needles, thread, machines and gadgets. Here are local contacts:
South East London Children's University: [email protected]
Lambeth Children's University: [email protected]
East London: [email protected]
West London: [email protected]
Hammersmith and Fulham: [email protected]
Project Linus: A volunteer organisation that aims to provide a sense of security and comfort to sick and traumatised babies, children and teenagers through the provision of new home-made patchwork quilts and knitted blankets, and give volunteers across the UK the opportunity to contribute to their local community.
Website: https://projectlinusuk.org.uk
Young Quilters: Perhaps bring items to regional days to give to YQ reps. Website: http://www.youngquilters.org.uk
The National Needlework Archive, Newbury: To contribute unique artefacts or books related to needlework.
Website: https://www.nationalneedleworkarchive.org.uk
Recyclenow: Clothes and textiles that are in good condition can be donated and sold for re-use. Items that aren’t suitable to be passed onto someone else can be recycled and made into new items, such as padding for chairs and car seats, cleaning cloths and industrial blankets.
Website: https://www.recyclenow.com/what-to-do-with/clothing-textiles-0
NextDoor: A way to get in touch with your neighbours to advertise items that you would like to give away or sell. Local people will contact you and arrange to come and collect what you are giving/selling:
Website: https://nextdoor.co.uk/about_us
Other Ideas:
Contact local schools and churches .The popular activity “messy church” can always use leftover fabrics etc.
Ask your local charity shop if they will put your scraps in with their ‘rags’ or for larger sized pieces made up in colour or themed fabric in see through bags for them to sell.