Photograph by Benjamin Film Photography
Our resource centres provide the opportunity for people with a learning disability to take part in therapeutic activities such as arts & crafts, woodwork and photography.
Most recently, our Ramsgate resource centre has begun running an upcycling session. Here, members have been taking unwanted products and transforming them into something new. Vinyl records are among the products that the group has upcycled, which they moulded into plant pots.
In the arts & crafts session, members have been using donated materials and lavender from the garden to make scented fabric hearts. The group have also been melting down used candle wax and re-setting it to make teacup candles.
In the woodwork session, members have been making birdhouses. Any leftover blocks of wood are used in the photography session, where the group have been mounting their photographs for upcoming exhibitions.
We sell the various items members make to raise funds for our services. These can be bought at our Margate and Ramsgate resource centres, as well as at the events we hold throughout the year. We are hoping to open a retail outlet in Thanet later this year, where we will sell all of the items made by our groups.
Member, Lee, said: “I am enjoying the sessions and learning new skills, like sewing! When my coat came apart, I was able to sew it back together.”
“I now make things at home and bring them in to sell so we can raise more money,” commented member, Natasha.
[Siobhan Rose O’Gorman]
