'Believe & Create'-Empower Vulnerable Young People

Aim

To empower,teach skills,create opportunities and build confidence in Vulnerable Young People through creative furniture Upcycling workshops.

Let me Introduce Myself

Hi I am Lyn Hamilton you’ll usually find me covered in paint running about doing a million things and ultimately running late for the school pick up.Sadly am not always dressed up prancing about with fairy wings on as the picture below might indicate (this was for a fairy event where I was teaching kids to upcycle vintage plates into butterfly feeders.)

I set up Wee Red Upcycles CIC (Community Interest Company) which is a not for profit social enterprise based in Haddington, East Lothian.

The main aims of Wee Red Upcycles (WRU) is to improve the Health and Well Being,to support, educate,up-skill and empower Adults, Young People and Children with disabilities, additional support needs and those who face significant barriers and inequalities in our community and society.  

This is done through Creative Furniture Upcycling and using other creative processes to improve people lives. More on that later on.

So What is a Social Enterprise?

‘A social enterprise, just like any business, sells a product or provides a service, employs paid staff, pays its taxes and files accounts. But instead of the profits going to a few individuals, they are used to create social or environmental impact.’ – from Firstport website.

It’s basically a Business for Good and 100% of Wee Red Upcycles profits will be reinvested back into Wee Red Upcycles to provide creative opportunities for Vulnerable Adults, Young People and Children and the wider community in East Lothian. Helping people to realise their full potential and become more environmentally & climate aware and to be connected and play an active part in their community.

So What does Wee Red Upcycles Do?

Well Wee Red Upcycles saves furniture and other items from going to landfill. We Upcycle them and turn them into high quality unique sell-able products to generate income aiming to become financially sustainable. We also want to inspire people to be more sustainable and reduce the amount of usable items going to landfill.

We teach Vulnerable Adults and Young People the skills and techniques needed to transform items distend for landfill. Empowering them through creativity and ‘Making’. 

We aim to increase confidence, self-esteem, teach real transferable skills, build on social and communication skills as part of working in a team. And in turn increase employ ability  and life skills.

Ultimately we aim to Improve the Health and Well Being of those Vulnerable Adults, Young People and Children who face significant barriers and the wider Community. As well as reducing social isolation by creating an all inclusive,fun,relaxed,atmosphere where people can come together to learn something new, build friendships, feel valued,respected,listen too and feel part of their community and most importantly have fun. 

The Problem

People with disabilities contribute to our communities and add talent, diversity and richness to our society. Yet so many people are still unable to make their contribution or live their lives as they would want because of the barriers in their way.

 Our homes, our transport, our workplaces, our public services and our local environments are all too often designed or operated in ways that can exclude disabled people. 

Inaccessible communication, negative attitudes, low expectations, discrimination and inequality impact in ways which interact and affect the chances of disabled people - even to have social connections and human interaction.

 This can lead to isolation, loneliness and poor mental health and feelings of lack of self worth.

• only 17% of people with a Learning Disability are in employment in the UK as a whole
• with only about 5% of people with a learning disability in employment in Scotland
• 69% people with a learning disability report feeling lonely

80% of Young People with a learning disability report feeling isolated and lonely

 Wee Red Upcycles can be part of the solution

I set up Wee Red Upcycles to make a positive difference and help to break down these barriers and inequalities. I have a wide variety of experience and knowledge both professionally and personally.Having worked in the social care sector for 16 years supporting both Adults and Young People with various disabilities and learning disabilities. 

Also my middle child ( I have 3) has a disability called Dystonia ( a Neurological Movement Disorder) which effects her mobility she now uses a wheelchair most of the time and has lost the ability to speak. So we use 'sign a long' sign language and she also uses an I Pad device which is her voice. Like Britains got talent 2018 winner - Lee the Lost Voice Guy but not as advanced as him,yet! But their is time! 

She also underwent 2 brain surgeries when I was part of The Scottish School of Social Entrepreneurs start up programme were I was learning all about social enterprise and at the start of making  Wee Red Upcycles a reality I did manage to graduate from this programme even with everything going on.It has been a challenging road but I am determined and committed to making positive changes and improving opportunities for those who I have had the pleasure to work with and my daughter.

 I also have a BA in Textile Design and a wide range of knowledge of other crafts. I  know the approach and method and environment that I have created at Wee Red Upcycles works. We have ran a variety of pilot programmes and workshops to Young People with additional support needs and all with no real funding. The feedback has been amazing and the positive difference in the young people has been fantastic to watch as they grow in confidence and thrive at Wee Red Upcycles. There is a high demand for more of this work and longer programme as well.

 I secured premises in Haddington for Wee Red Upcycles which we are needing funding to keep the doors open so we have a place to teach and the community can access and we create the social impact and change that I set out to do. The rent and utilities are £15,000 a year alone. I am also trying to raise this money via various other funding streams. 

We are crowdfunding for the 'Believe & Create' Project  read on below for more information on that.

I have been selected to be part of the 'Back Her Business' competition campaign #BringIt2020 run by The Royal Bank of Scotland and Natwest. They will match fund up to £500 if we meet certain targets. But the really exciting news is that we could win up to £10,000. BUT we need to HIT OUR TARGETS and run a brilliant crowdfunder campaign. There is a panel of experts that will choose the winner.

This amount would be amazing and literally CHANGE PEOPLE LIVES.

Why are we Crowdfunding?

We are Crowdfunding to set up the 'Believe & Create' Project for Young People with a Learning Disability or Additional Support Needs whatever that may be. It will be a program of creative workshops where they will learn a wide variety of craft skills. Using furniture,textiles and other waste materials destined for landfill as training materials.

• They will learn skills such as furniture repair & preparation, painting & upcycling techniques,sewing ,upholstery,printing and woodwork to name a few. Producing sell able items.
• The young people will learn skills in design,marketing,pricing,sales,customer service and money handling.
• The Young People will sell their items to generate income to continue the project,making it sustainable in the long run.
• The young people will have a big part in making the decisions and planning the 'Believe & Create' Project with assistance when required

I NEED YOU HELP

I have set a TARGET of £2000 to get the ‘Believe & Create’ Project started and off the ground. The money will be used for;

• Set up and running costs, venue,utilities, etc..
• PVG checks for Volunteers
• Buy much needed equipment like drills, sanders, clamps, staple guns and other tools….
• Other materials, like paint brushes, eco friendly paints, fabrics, wallpapers …..

Also some safety equipment like ear defenders, gloves, face masks, eye protection goggles and aprons……

If we reach our £2000 Target, which I am so hoping WE CAN with YOUR HELP! 

We have been bold and have set a STRETCH TARGET of £3000 and are praying we can squeeze a bit more from this Crowdfunder Campaign.

If we reach our Stretch Target of £3000 we will be able to;

Start setting up our ‘RE-Craftability Club’ which will be a FREE fortnightly arts & crafts group for Children of all Abilities and Backgrounds. These creative workshops will have a focus on RE-using, REpairing, Upcycling & Recycling and learning about positive changes we can make for our planet and the importance of Reusing and Fixing what we have to be more sustainable and make a positive difference to our environment. 

The money would help with;

• Set up and running cost to get started
• Art & craft materials -that we can’t source for free
• Provide a Healthy Snack (especially during holiday times as some families struggle as no school meals being provided)
• Buy accessible indoor/outdoor games that all can play
• Buy adaptable supplies such as special easy to use scissors for those children fine motor skills difficulties
• Childrens ‘boiler suit’ style overalls 

YOU CAN HELP BY

• PLEDGE and donate money which there are some amazing rewards you can choose from and receive. So not only are you getting something FABULOUS you are helping to create opportunities for those that face so many barriers.
• SHARE this crowdfunding page and PLEASE TELL as many people as you can.Literally every penny will help us reach our Target and be in with a chance of winning the £10,000 

Click on the links to follow Wee Red Upcycles

  Facebook https://www.facebook.com/WeeRedUpcycles/ 

  Twitter https://twitter.com/weeredupcycles 

  Instagram https://www.instagram.com/weeredupcycles/ 

   www.weeredupcycles.org

 Some of the Rewards 

£5 Pledge 

set of 4 Handpainted Cork Coasters (colours may vary)

£3.50 Pledge Key Ring made from Pallet wood (colours may vary)

cement candle holders

£100 Kids/Teens creative party for up to 10

THANK YOU AGAIN

KEEP PLEDGING AND SHARING

This project successfully funded on 7th April 2020