Funding crisis could lead to scrapstore closure

A charity which allows scrap materials donated by local businesses to be reused creatively by after-school clubs, drama groups and nursery schools is facing closure.

Scrapstore North Bristol sells anything from strips of ripstop nylon and rubber offcuts to sparkly trousers and stick-on eyebrows.

The waste material, donated by businesses like Cameron Balloons, Amarin Rubber and Ikea, is given new life as fancy dress costumes, party decorations and even stage sets.

But the service is facing a funding crisis and faces closure. Manager Laura Jones said: "Like many organisations, we are desperately short of funds."

Professional magician Jayne Townley - also known as Magic Jayne - teaches and performs magic tricks, as well as running after-school clubs and shoe-painting workshops.

"I teach people to upcycle shoes, boots, crocs and wellies to save them from going into landfill," she said.

"I come here [to Scrapstore] and get the resources I need for minimal costs, which means I charge minimal amount."

Deborah Smith buys fabric from the North Somerset Scrapstore and make tote bags which she sells to raise money for the charity The Not Forgotten.

"It's a waste product, stuff that would have normally gone to landfill," said Smith.

"I can make something out of it, make some money from it, and then somebody else can benefit from that money."

Manager Laura Jones has worked for Scrapstore North Somerset for 13 years. In that time she has seen the number of local families using the service grow to more than 500.

"Weston-super-Mare is an area where there isn't a lot of disposable income," said Jones. "Being here means those families have a low cost resource that can broaden their opportunities for creative play."

Customers are charged £12 for a full shopping basket of "scraps" and the charity is also supported by the Quartet Community Foundation, a local philanthropic organisation.

But with rents due to rise 10%, and costs with spiralling, the service is facing a funding crisis which threatens its future.

"I've watched children grow up over the years and many of those children have never known the world without scrap store," said Jones.

"We're hoping that at the 11th hour there may be some way we can rescue this valuable resource. It will be a sad time if we have to close."

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