Coronavirus means a change in tactics for local fundraiser
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Back in September last year, Sarah Robinson from Insch decided that she would forgo any new or second hand clothes, shoes and accessories for a year to build awareness around clothing landfill and to fundraise.
Her project, which is called Grassetstyle 365 No New Clothes, or GS365NNC for short is raising money for Cancer Research UK and to support sustainability projects at The Gordon Schools in Huntly where her son is pupil.
Her aim is to persuade people to buy fewer clothes, to not put their clothes in the bin and to recycle as much as possible.
She said: “People often buy clothes that are the wrong colour, shape or style for their colouring and body shape and as a consequence they are not worn and hang in the wardrobe with the tags on.
"We need to stop buying as much, look after what we have and swop or recycle what we don’t wear.
"At the end of last year it was reported that in the UK alone 2000 new items of clothing are purchased every minute while at the same time 50 trucks of used clothing are being put into landfill every day!
"This has to stop.
"I’m hoping that people will think about what they are doing, make some long term changes and persuade others to do the same.”
Pre Coronavirus she was fundraising by a variety of means including clothes swapping parties, personal consultations, raffles, silent auctions and a very successful themed disco in Insch.
She was giving talks and working with pupils from The Gordons Schools on a variety of initiatives.
Like everyone else everything has changed, however, determined to continue fundraising she has switched to selling clothes on Ebay and has also recently decided to sell her homemade whisky marmalade to anyone local who would like to give it a try.
She say’s “My marmalade has been popular with friends and family for a while and recently it was suggested to me that I try and sell it locally.
"I’ve decided to go for it in the hope of raising more money for life-saving cancer research and sustainability projects at my son’s school.
"It’s made with whisky from our local distillery in Kennethmont so I’m pleased to be supporting them too.
"If you are up for a taster, contact details are on my website www.grassetstyle.co.uk”.
Finally, if you have had or are planning a wardrobe clear out and would like to donate your clothes to her project please keep them and she will collect them once restrictions are eased.
She urges people not to put clothes in the bin as these will end up in landfill.
Donations will be sorted through and, dependant on their condition, they will be sold, swapped or put into the rag bag which makes money for the school.
So far the project has had many exciting and unexpected outcomes.
After seeing an article about the project, Zero Waste Scotland contacted her and are now planning to profile it as part of a Scotland- wide initiative.
Earlier this year she also found out that she had been nominated for and had become a finalist for Aberdeenshire Inspirational Volunteer of the Year 2020.
She concluded “Future generations face a devastating environmental legacy and we have to act now to safeguard the earth.
"There may be many things that are out of our direct control but we all have control over how many clothes we buy and what we do with them.”
The project has raised over £5600 so far and she has grand ambitions to raise thousands more.
