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We had a fantastic time over two separate afternoons in the main hall at the Katherine Road Community Centre with two community sustainability fairs. Each event had different zones which introduced members of our community to affordable, practical, and creative ways in which they can lower their carbon footprint. We offered a variety of free product samples and initiatives which really helped demonstrate ways to combat climate change at a household level. Residents took advan

Course attendees were talked through different techniques to impart textural elements where desired. This led to the inclusion of a few final design elements.   Everyone was inducted in machine sewing thanks to the lovely making-volunteers. Participants were provided with plenty of one-to-one time during their forays into machine stitching. Confidence levels markedly rose as attendees found their feet and realised that they could comfortably sew when provided with good suppor

With the work beginning in earnest, course participants were able to roll up their sleeves and get stuck in. With assistance from the course tutor and volunteers the attendees were helped to change garment proportions and discover how to fit the upcycled designs around their body shapes and proportions. Consideration was given to how to work towards the desired end results, allowing for changes to be made according to design-led whim! ​ This is where a bit of staying power pa

Course participants were given technical instruction, arming them with factors worthy of consideration before embarking on the cutting and sewing leg of their upcycling journey. This was done to provide basic cutting and stitching instruction alongside helping the attendees avoid certain making pitfalls, to work towards the best finished pieces! Participants were advised on which upcycled design elements they might wish to avoid for complete beginners, to aid them in creating

Group founder, Celia Wain-Heapy has been invited to represent ClimateYouChange within the Newham Council Communiy Changemaker programme. According to Newham Council: ‘We are relaunching our ‘Changemakers’ programme to celebrate people who go above and beyond to improve the health and wellbeing of their communities in Newham. This will be a constantly growing community, where people can meet, share ideas and inspiration, network and make connections. Changemakers will be celeb

We are now moving on to upcycling and deciding on personal projects. This is a stage which cannot be rushed! Everyone is encouraged to play with fashion, to discard previous notions of what fashion should be and how clothes ‘are intended to be worn’. We are not looking for crazy and out there but rather upcycled styles which reflect the true spirit of the wearer and their individual creativity. The fashion volunteers and tutor were on hand to help with ideas and pinning! Guid

The Shape Newham project, launched in 2019 to make improvements to the public realm * has now reached its conclusion in the Green Street area.   As a reminder from our 4 March 2020 news update, group member, Celia attended a series of workshops held across the London Borough of Newham.   She took part in exercises designed to choose locations and priorities for each project, always with a view to promoting those which were most likely to achieve favourable outcomes for clima

This is where the fun begins! The next stage of our time together focusses on harnessing our creativity. This was a chance to see that everyone has a well of creativity that they can tap into; to understand that it is not just the designers and artists in society who have access to this precious commodity.  Before moving onto upcycling and making we needed to first look at how to wear and style clothes differently to reinvigorate the pieces already owned. The short course tut

In July 2021 ClimateYouChange was approached by Nicola Mackie from Newham Council in her previous role as the East Ham Neighbourhood Community Ward Manager. Nicola asked for advice on what would be best to plant in East Ham’s Gooseley Playing Fields where it borders the A13. We gave the only sensible answer...Miyawaki! We couldn’t in good conscience recommend that food be grown close to a busy motorway but could suggest a way of achieving incredible levels of carbon drawdown