CAREFIX - Wooden Models of Heritage

Aim

Celebrating the 80th anniversary & the end of World War II by creating wooden models of the Supermarine Spitfire from recycled pallets.

It is important that we all begin to think about creating a circular economy and reducing the amount of waste we produce, throwaway and disregard, both as individuals and organisations; Looking back to the 1940s, the 'Make Do and Mend' culture and campaign during World War II brought the nation together to repair, reuse and reimagine the use of materials. It symbolised resilience, resourcefulness, and creativity that shaped a generation's attitudes towards consumption and waste.

Today, there are similar and different challenges including: socio-economic difficulties, climate change and the state of the planet...

Therefore Projects from Pallets CIC’s new initiative focuses on climate awareness and reducing carbon emissions through cultural activities. Whereas other organisations buy in their materials and resources to run their art/craft activities, we focus on the importance in the collaboration between the public sector and corporate businesses through the recycling of materials to deliver our workshops…

Our latest project called ‘CAREFIX’ not only cares for the environment, it also works with participants from youth organisations, community groups, charities and trusts to tackle social problems (skills shortages, anti-social behaviour, isolation and loneliness etc).

Workshops 

Our local community project leader, Chris Parr, holds a BBC Environmental Award, is a multi-award winning social entrepreneur and Prime Minister’s ‘Points of Light’ recipient #2115 for championing his home City of Stoke-on-Trent’s pottery and industrial heritage through his ideas around recycling. He also holds a BA (Hons.) Degree in Education.

Read MORE: https://www.pointsoflight.gov.uk/the-stoke-2000/

CAREFIX will see Chris managing a group of recycling volunteers to reuse pallet wood to create a circular economy and deliver workshops with more participants and co-create these Spitfire models that celebrate the most famous fighter aircraft in history. A plane with an interesting story, a strong connection with the Battle of Britain and a true British and worldwide cultural icon. 2025 also sees the 80th anniversary and the official end of the Second World War and a perfect time to unleash his latest ingenious idea...

• Victory in Europe (VE) Day was the 8th May 1945 and Victory over Japan (VJ) Day was the 15th August 1945.

Here’s one Chris Parr made earlier… Can you do better? Participants will take away their model at the end of the workshops.

• DID YOU KNOW, there were over 20,000 Spitfires built and around 240 are known to exist in the world today? 
• These are either held in storage, actively being restored or used for static displays and airshows.

Our social enterprise is celebrating the iconic Supermarine Spitfire by co-creating wooden models of heritage with community groups through the recycling of waste pallets. 2025 also sees the celebration of Stoke-on-Trent’s 100th anniversary of City status and where Staffordshire’s Projects from Pallets CIC is based. The Spitfire was designed by Reginald Mitchell who was born in North Staffordshire and attended Hanley High School, one of the 6 towns that make up our City.

Please donate and support our project called CAREFIX. The more funds we raise, the more participants we can work with to remember the war and Spitfire while helping the planet in the process...

Our Featured Reward:

For £20, Sponsor a relative & we will create you a model Spitfire from recycled pallets...

CHOOSE YOUR OWN: Roundels (A, B, C or C1), Wings (Clipped or Rounded) and Aircraft Colours (Brown/Grey/Green/Blue/Pink)

Funding method

Keep what you raise – this project will receive all pledges made