Vintage Worx secures funding for upcycling project

Volunteer-run Vintage Worx has secured funding for a 12-month upcycling project to run from its Falinge Park premises.

The Community Development Trust is one of 21 groups to receive funding from the Recycle for Greater Manchester Community Fund to combat household waste.

Vintage Worx’s ‘Trash to Treasure’ scheme is a creative solution to tackle the ‘throw away culture’ and reduce the number of items sent to landfill by recycling, repairing or reusing household waste.

Community members can sign up for workshops in furniture upcycling and will be able to bring their own items to repair and refurbish, or upcycle items donated by the community that would have been otherwise thrown away.

They will also be able to join textile art workshops which will use donated bedding, material and clothes to create new items such as soft furnishings, ‘bags for life’ and textile art pieces.

Vintage Worx will also be running eight-week cookery sessions that show how to reduce food waste, create better, more sustainable foods, and reduce costs. YouTube videos and booklets will be made available for the community to access that will provide additional information, tips and resources to help reducing waste.

The items created and saved from landfill will be used to create a community Upcycle shop.

Run by volunteers, all pieces sold will create funds to sustain the project long term and pay for upcycling materials etc. Monies raised will also be used as prizes for fundraising for small local charities who would otherwise struggle to raise funds.

This shop is set to open in Spring 2022.

Vintage Worx Community Director Samantha Powers said: “After speaking with our volunteers, we realised there is a growing enthusiasm in the community to reduce, reuse and recycle as people are becoming more aware of environmental issues, wanting to reduce waste and promote sustainable living. Our ‘Trash To Treasure’ project has been designed to support these goals.

The funding provided will support the ongoing development of this community and create a brand-new outlet for reducing waste in the area. Vintage Worx are excited to begin this project and are actively recruiting new participants for the upcoming sessions.

Ward councillor Rachel Massey said: “I’m thrilled that Vintage Worx have been successful in their bid. This will be a brilliant opportunity for local residents in our community to learn skills, and breathe new life into unwanted items.

“We have declared a climate emergency and must do everything we can to make tangible sustainable actions, that contribute towards saving our planet. Recycling paper and cans can only take us so far and we must start thinking and doing bigger together to make a difference.”

The Recycle for Greater Manchester Community Fund is accessed through the Greater Manchester Environment Fund, the UK’s first regional environmental impact fund.

The fund is a joint Recycle for Greater Manchester and SUEZ initiative, supported through profits from three new reuse shops – “Renew” – which launched in July this year. The shops are located at household waste recycling centres in Oldham, Trafford and Salford, and sell pre-loved household items that would have otherwise gone to waste, increasing recycling and supporting the environment.  

Councillor Neil Emmott, Greater Manchester Green City-Region lead said: “There has been an amazing response to the fund, and we’re really pleased to be able to support such a wide range of innovative projects that are going to help reduce waste and bring new benefits and opportunities to our local communities.

“Funding community-led projects can not only support green jobs and skills in our towns and cities, but it also helps contribute to Greater Manchester’s wider ambitions to be a leading green city-region.”

If you would like to get involved, learn new skills and contribute to the ongoing project, please email Vintage Worx.