Reducing waste and reusing materials are top priority when it comes to transitioning to a circular economy. Not enough people recognise how much value can be found in the many things people throw away.
That’s where Abbey Community Centre come in. They are one of this year’s recipients of the North London Community Fund, based in Kilburn, Camden.
They run weekly Recycle-Art community craft classes, which are all about making waste reduction more fun and creative, through using waste materials to make crafts for the home or garden.
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By recognising the potential in discarded items, attendees transform things like old milk cartons and plastic bottles into useful and beautiful items, like planters, promoting sustainability and reducing waste simultaneously.
We spoke to Simone Carneiro, Community Activities Coordinator, who heads up the Recycle-Art community craft classes to find out more about the programme and its impact.
What gave you the idea for the Recycle-Art community craft classes?
We wanted to give a green approach to our arts and crafts sessions at the Abbey Community Centre using accessible materials. By planning a project where participants would reuse ordinary materials to create crafty items, we would be promoting environmental awareness in the community and demonstrating the benefits of not only throwing away but transforming.
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What have you found most inspiring about the classes?
There are many inspiring aspects about this programme.
For one, the wonderful mental and physical benefits that these Recycle-Art Friday sessions bring to the participants.
It takes a great deal of creativity, and a degree of technique, to work with materials we find, and the group has shown their true craft and innovation in the process.
We adapt projects so that they are user-friendly and not stressful for the participants.
We ensure that the projects are accessible, so that everyone feels happy to get involved.
It’s amazing to see how much the participants enjoy exploring the ability to think creatively with innovative solutions and adaptability.
They adore seeing the transformation of something we would normally simply throw away, into something useful and beautiful. It’s lovely to see how proud they feel of their artistic accomplishments as well, showing their crafts to each other and sharing thoughts and suggestions.
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Participants sometimes send pictures on our Recycle-Art WhatsApp group of other crafts they have made at home using recycled materials – I find it inspiring that the classes have engendered more creativity and confidence!
Lastly, I am in awe of the motivation everyone shows in collecting recycled materials and bringing them to the centre.
Tell us about the creative ways that people have repurposed spare plastics, textiles, cardboard, food packaging or any other materials.
The group has been transforming simple plastic milk bottles into creative character planters for their gardens and homes.
They also created and produced fantastic environmentalist posters about plastic pollution in the oceans. The materials used were cardboard, plastic bottles and tops and plastic bags for this project. They worked in small groups, interacting and sharing ideas – it sparked lots of fascinating conversation
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Can you tell us what your main takeaway has been from the Recycle-Art classes?
This initiative has motivated everyone to get involved, collecting materials to repurpose and transforming them into both creative and useful art products. It has been a lovely opportunity for the community to collaborate and care for the environment.
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There are so many project ideas, we explore a different one every week and if we can’t complete the project in one class we finalise it the following week. There is no pressure, as the classes are supposed to be enjoyable and relaxing.
It’s simply brilliant, and so rewarding to see the beneficial outcomes of the classes – how much the participants get involved in the class, creating, collaborating, sharing skills and ideas, and even making new friends.
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What participants say about the classes
"I have been coming to the Recycle-Art Classes for years. We've made things out of old cardboard boxes, plastics and all sorts. We've made lovely dragon flies, plant holders, birds, flowers - we've had some fantastic projects and I thoroughly enjoy the classes!" - Jacqui
"Being able to reuse the plastic is great. Otherwise we have to throw it away." - Barbara
"My favourite projects were making hyacinths out of used coffee filters and using old tea bags to make things. I like making the planters too because they act as a great home for my spider plants which keep producing baby spider plants! The sessions have also made me more aware about the use of plastic - I don't buy plastic bags at the supermarket anymore!" - Deborah
If you would like to learn more about this community group visit Abbey Community Centre or find out about any upcoming Recycle-Art classes on our Events page.
Published
2 December 2024
