The Sewing Rooms opens in Halton

Started in Skelmersdale, The Sewing Rooms is a multiple award winning social enterprise that, with support from Well North, is expanding into Halton.

Based in Runcorn Shopping City, the new Sewing Rooms Halton will work closely with groups and individuals at risk of isolation, those with mental health issues and people experiencing long-term unemployment.

The Sewing Rooms enterprise was co-founded by lifelong entrepreneurs Maureen Fazal and Paula Gamester, and its expansion includes hiring local creative talent Victoria Begg. The Runcorn native and textile designer brings with her a wealth of local knowledge and experience, which will help the Sewing Rooms Halton replicate the successful mix of social and commercial programmes already being run in Skelmersdale.

Well North Chief Executive Sam Tunney says, “We are so pleased to see the fruits of so many people’s labour in this new link between Well Skelmersdale and Well Halton. It’s exciting to see growth in the local textile and manufacturing industries, especially in the form of businesses that focus on community wellbeing. Using enterprise, creativity and innovation to inspire change is at the heart of what we do, and this new venture is a brilliant example of how this can work in practice.”

Sewing Rooms co-founder Paula Gamester said, “Our goal is to help make a positive difference in people’s lives, so Maureen and I are incredibly excited, and proud, to have developed the Sewing Rooms to a point that allows us to reach new communities. Increasing wellbeing is the foundation of our work – we see the health benefits of creativity every day, and we strongly believe in the power of buying local.”

Business sustainability in Halton will focus on developing the Sewing Rooms’ partnership with John Lewis, including expanding the benefits to the local community of donations of school uniform stock, and offering an assortment of sewing classes as well as an alteration and curtain making service. Both branches of the enterprise also will be providing a new range of community-based social prescription interventions for people experiencing mild to moderate mental health distress.

The Sewing Rooms Halton is already benefiting from the strength of the local community, with the new premises based in space donated by Runcorn Shopping City and building and redecorating work donated by members of Runcorn Veterans Association.

Lord Andrew Mawson, Executive Chairman of Well North, will officially open The Sewing Rooms Halton on Thursday 5 October 2017.

For more information, please get in touch.