Do you have new sample clothing that could be used by adapted clothing charity Dressability to demonstrate its adaptations and fabric and haberdashery for community projects?

Based in Swindon, Dressability alters and adapts clothing for adults and children with disabilities and older people with limited dexterity. The charity also runs several community-based projects supporting local groups and organisations including providing blankets for the homeless each winter and making dressing up clothes for children in wheelchairs, in addition to numerous other projects each year.

Sharon Tombs, Dressability’s manager, says: “As a charity we are always looking out for new good quality items of clothing to alter and adapt and use as samples to demonstrate our service. Discreet zips, Velcro and magnets enable anyone who has had a stroke for instance to manage their own clothing and regain their dignity and independence. As part of our lottery funding we are in the process of making up kits of adapted clothing that will be given out to the stroke unit, re-enablement service, Parkinson’s group, Headway and many other supportive organisations. The kits will enable potential clients to see first hand some of the life-changing adaptations that are highly skilled dressmakers are able to offer.

“In addition to this core business we have a team of around 20 volunteers who work on community projects.  For example over the past six years we have delivered over 1,000 fleece blankets to the homeless made from rolls of donated fleece which was surplus to requirements or faulty. Our volunteers also make wheelchair capes from this fleece.

“We are also making Christmas sacks this year for our local women’s refuge and decorative bibs for one of our local special schools. A couple of years ago we were given lots of new but discontinued wool which, together with another community group, was knitted up into gifts and shared out with local elderly people who were on their own at Christmas.

“I feel that there will be businesses out there who are throwing away materials that our volunteers could use to improve the lives of those with long term health conditions and disabilities. What a waste! If any of your members would like to get in touch with me and could help, that would be great.”

Find out more about Dressability here or contact Sharon on 01793 512878 and sharontombs@dressability.org.uk if you can help.