Many may not realise the magic that can take place when a few individuals come together to make
a difference. In the tranquil and ancient Egloshayle Church, a group of volunteers gather to sort, fold,
hang and pack never-ending piles of children’s clothing to provide, free of charge, to local families every week.
The Grace Project began in 2021 and came from an idea by Helen Eustice, who saw the impact the Cornwall Children’s Clothes Bank in Truro had on families and thought there might be a need in
Wadebridge.
“I could not believe there was such a high demand for children’s clothing in an area like Truro and the number of families that relied on it to clothe their children. When I learned that the local foodbank and storehouse was moving to larger premises in this town, it confirmed to me that there was a definite need, so I went to talk to our vicar,” said Helen.
With advice from those behind the Cornwall Children’s Clothes Bank, the Grace Project idea sprang to life. The cost-of-living crisis and environmental challenges surrounding clothing have contributed to the growing need for this project. Operating out of Egloshayle Church, and run by a dedicated band of volunteers, the project has grown exponentially in the last couple of years.
Wadebridge Life went along to the project’s recent open afternoon to meet some of the volunteers and gauge just how important this service is to the community.
With boxes upon boxes of clothing and shoes, it was not surprising to see so many volunteers hurrying past with little coats, dungarees, baby grows and t-shirts, ready to be hung up on rails or packed into bags for collection.
Rita, Gilly, Roy, Rosemary, Bernice and Jackie were just some of the volunteers on hand during the open afternoon, offering a friendly smile as they worked.
Unsurprisingly, the team receives a huge number of donations from the community, often bags full of good quality, beautiful clothing items for youngsters. With the aim of helping families with children aged 0-12 years, the Grace Project allows people to pop into the church to pick out what they want or need during their drop-in sessions, or to reach out to the team so that a bag of items can be put together to suit their requirements.
The Grace Project offers a confidential, safe space for families to get a little bit of extra support if they need it, and is free for any family to make use of. There is a little section at the back of the church where donations are stored and sorted.
Showing Wadebridge Life into their sorting area, volunteer Rita said: “This is where clothes are quality sorted. The clothes we put out have got to be in good condition. Then we put everything into gendered boxes. We always have a mammoth sort, and anything we’re unable to put out is taken to the Salvation Army, so nothing is thrown out.”
In order to reach areas outside of Wadebridge, the Grace Project has expanded its services, sending volunteers and bags of clothing to wellbeing mornings in Camelford, coffee mornings in Delabole, the food hub in Tintagel, and the Community Space and Foodbank in Bodmin, meaning the positive impact can be felt further afield, as well as here in Wadebridge.
But who does the Grace Project help? It could be anyone with babies or children up to the age of 12. The cost of living crisis has had an effect on many families in the UK. While we encourage our children to grow big and strong in those vital years from infancy and childhood to adolescence, the expense of having to keep on top of buying new clothes for our ever-growing children can be a bit of a stretch for some families. Having a service like the Grace Project on the doorstep, which provides good quality clothing for children, free of charge, has helped many people in Wadebridge and other areas of North Cornwall.
In addition to the support for local families, the project also aims to tackle the amount of clothing that goes to landfill. It is thought that £140-million of clothing is thrown away each year in the UK.
Volunteer Rosemary is proud of the work the Grace Project has done to give the clothes a new lease of life. She said: “We get so many lovely donations. If we can pass them on to a new family, where they
will be used again, then that’s great!”
Despite the boxes full of clothes, they soon go, so the team is always keen to receive more donations. If your little one has finally outgrown a few bits and pieces in their wardrobe, and the items have managed to survive the rough and tumble nature of youngsters, do consider taking them to Egloshayle Church, where a friendly volunteer will always be ready to take them off your hands. Clothes can be dropped off daily between 10am and 4pm. Donations can also be dropped daily between 10am and
4pm at St John’s in Delabole, St Thomas in Camelford and the church in St Teath.
If you think the Grace Project might be able to help you, get in touch with the team via direct message on social media, details can be found on their Facebook and Instagram pages, or email grace@wadebridgeparish.org.uk. You can also drop in to Egloshayle Church every Thursday, 2pm-3pm, if you would prefer to select your own clothes. Open afternoons are held on the first Thursday of the month, which offer a great chance to meet the team, have a browse, enjoy some refreshments, and make new friends.
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