Funding from Ethical Giving has allowed us to run an upcycling course for residents of Matson at the Redwell Centre. We have been running two hour sessions every Friday in the Redwell workshop looking at how old furniture can be repaired, refurbished and given a new lease of life. Our qualified tutor works with people at their own pace to give them the skills and confidence to be able to take on their own upcycling projects at home.
Upcycling at The Redwell Centre
We focus on specific projects to learn different skills and techniques, stripping back old furniture, sanding, cleaning, prepping all the way to different finishing techniques such as upholstering, stencilling and spray painting. The members of the group are also encouraged to learn from each other and share their own skills and experiences.
We work on different items. Sometimes we all have the same item such as one chair out of a set of six. We would work on them together with the aim of selling a uniform set afterwards. This would not just bring a bit of money back to support the group, but also inspire the group of what can be done with the furniture afterwards. Other times people bring in their own items that they want upcycled for their own use.
This funding has allowed us to run a fun, interesting and important course teaching people skills but also making people relook at how things can be reused instead of discarded.
