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This March, Gateshead-based charity Chopwell Regeneration launched ‘The Regeneration Shop’. Supported with a generous grant of £30,000 over three years from the Platten Family Fund at the Community Foundation Tyne & Wear and Northumberland, the shop aims to support the local community with volunteering, job creation and skills development opportunities.
The new venture has brought an empty retail unit back into use where residents in the local area can bring household items to be repaired by local volunteers. Staff and external practitioners support local people to learn how to repair and upcycle electronics, clothing, and homeware. They will be able to develop STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) skills through a programme of workshops and training will lead to young people and adults gaining accredited qualifications to support their pursuit of STEM-based employment.
Ross Wilson, Senior Philanthropy Advisor at the Community Foundation said:
“This carefully considered project not only provides a local service that repairs and recycles secondhand goods that would otherwise go to landfill, but by offering accredited training opportunities in STEM fields, also gives local young people and adults invaluable work experience.
“By targeting local residents seeking to start a STEM career and adults looking to retrain, The Regeneration Shop will be able to offer a pathway from volunteering to employment”.
John Coburn interim chair of Trustees at Chopwell Regeneration explained that the project had significant backing:
“In September 2023, we ran a village-wide consultation to discuss opportunities for our next big project. When votes were counted, 92% were in favour of The Regeneration Shop. We are excited to be bringing another space in Chopwell into use to serve the people who live here.
“Chopwell Regeneration’s goal is to support a community that works together, helps local people succeed and contributes to a village that thrives.”
Managed by Hal Convery, a Chopwell resident for 32 years, The Regeneration Shop’s opening days and hours can be found on their Facebook page.