"Over the past few months Welshpool Youth Club members have been taking part in a Recycling Textiles Project, which has involved the following young people; Crystal, Danielle, Gervase, Kimberly, Adam, Joleen, Lucie, Joshua, Ellie-mae, and Cara.

The Textiles Project began with a training officer called Sara Heath, who is from Cae Post recycling centre in Trewern. She contacted Danielle Ashman to see if young people in Welshpool would be interested in a new enterprise.

The textiles Project was created because of a Russell Commission Grant, which would be used to explore the value of textiles and how old, leftover and non-wanted material and clothes could be recycled and be worth money again.

The Project started on Tuesday 15th January 2008, this is when the youth members met Sara and had an introduction on the work of Cae Post e.g. recycling phone cases, bottles, glass, plastic, material and textiles.

The youth members were shown where and how some of our recycled bottles and old mobile phone covers were used. We were told how people buy the sorted plastic from Cae Post and turn it into new things; some examples of this are coasters, made out of mobile phone covers. Fleeces made out of plastic bottles and pencils made out of paper.

At the end of the session Sara and the youth workers (Danielle and Gwen) arranged a visit to Cae Post to find and retrieve materials for out textiles Project. Sadly only two of our youth members could make the dates, which were Joleen and Crystal. But at a later date the rest of the youth members were offered a trip to Cae Post for a tour around the centre.

The second week of the project Sara was unable to attend but sent a colleague Sue Brachi. Sue was very helpful and full of ideas. Sue also brought along her creative bag, which she had made her self.

During the session Sue showed the group how it was possible to make a bag that looked really difficult but was quite easy to make. Sue also showed us how to draw and make a basic t-shirt/ waistcoat.

During the session the youth members had a group discussion on how the group were going to recycle the materials, what we were going to make with the materials, what materials each person wanted and what we should work towards as a group target.

At the end of a long discussion we decided on a fashion show, where we would show of all of our recycled products arranging from dresses and tops to funky bags and cushions.

The third week Sara and Susan returned to the project, bringing a long with them a sewing machine (which came in very handy). The group got on with designing and drawing a prototype and also started to make their costumes.

Week four the members carried on, making and designing their out fits and experimenting with fabrics, to see what would best fit with what they were making. Also this session we had lots of volunteers, come along to work with us.

Sadly, week fives session was shorter, due to the youth forum, which was taking part that night as well. During the short period we had members finishing of there items and begin a new ones.

Also this session we received three new sewing machines, which also included; pins, needles, cotton thread, sequins and spare sewing machine needles. Which were given to the youth club, for this particular project, from Oldford Community First.

Week six the members of the group were able to speed up the process of their designs, as there were now three machines, even though some people carried on making their designs by hand. The members of the group helped each other finish of their products and last little touch ups, as there was only one week left till the show.

During this session we also had a run through of the show, finished of drawings of our designs and pined them on the display boards and last but not least took pictures of our outfits.

The Show! The last week of our fun and energetic project, we had our fashion show. The group members arrived at 6:15. In preparation for the show, the members of the project help put out the delicious treats for the buffet, which Sara had brought along for the members of the project to enjoy and also the audience of the show.

The group members also participated in putting together the display board, arranging the seating (for the audience), setting up the lights and put on some up beat music.

The audience arrived at 7:30 and were ready and waiting for the show. The show began with the lights pumping and the music blaring, the models were of and ready to go.

Altogether the show was brilliant, the models really enjoyed themselves and the whole fashion show went down with a bang!

Overall I really enjoyed myself and am glad that I took part in the project, even though at times it was hard to get going or think of an idea, the whole group stuck together and made things work.

And I personally would advise many of my friends to join in and take in a recycling project if the chance came along. I would also suggest to them to re-use old material and design a new outfit as well as general recycling."

Article by Crystal Burt