A second grant for £2000 from IM Properties (IMP) Peddimore Community Fund is helping an upcycling group in North Birmingham develop a sewing school for young people.
The Up Creative Hub is run by a group of mums and works within the Minworth, Falcon Lodge and Sutton Coldfield area to trade skills, encourage recycling of textiles and provide arts, environmental and textile education, outreach and workshop programmes.
Helen Waite from The Up Creative, who was recently accepted onto the Lloyds Bank and Bank of Scotland Social Entrepreneurs Programme said the new sewing school was aimed at building self-esteem and confidence.
“We are working with a cohort of 17 to 22-year-olds to develop their skillsets to create their own character, collaborating with a mental health consultant to look at body image and identity how social media can shape an unrealistic image of ourselves.
“The group meets weekly at a number of satellite sites as some of the young people would struggle to afford the bus fare to travel to the main hub in Minworth. We give them a hot cup of tea and a piece of toast and work through their ideas with them.
Helen added: “We’re creating a journal alongside which is quite cathartic for the young people and we use it to help support each other. At the end of the course, there will be a City & Guilds qualification which we hope will help them step up to something greater.”
IMP’s Peddimore Community Fund is managed by the Heart of England Community Foundation and is awarded to groups surrounding its Minworth employment park.
During the pandemic, The Up Creative Hub and its members have given up 10,000 hours to make gowns and face masks and they created video tutorials for children to make bunting to brighten up their schools when they returned after lockdown.
Kerry Amory IM Properties’ Social Value Manager said “Once again The Up Creative are inspiring young people to aim high and to see the joy in life.
“I know Helen’s ambition is to turn her passion into a self-funding social enterprise and is giving up her time to work with Lloyds Bank and Bank of Scotland to develop her skills.
“ In the meantime, we are delighted to once again support her in targeting areas and local people directly surrounding our Minworth scheme.”
IM Properties is committed to delivering a positive impact to communities outside of the physical boundaries of its developments through its community fund, developing skills and employment opportunities and donating time and resources in partnership with its supply chain.
For further information on how to apply for grants from the Peddimore Community Fund visit https://www.heartofenglandcf.co.uk/peddimore-community-fund/ or call 024 7688 3297.