Paula Gamester is the founder of the Sewing Rooms, a social enterprise based in Skelmersdale, West Lancashire.
The Sewing Rooms is one of the initiatives supported by Unltd and the Design Council as part of Transform Ageing.
What do you do?
I started a social enterprise called Connector Media 10 years ago when I was working as a business advisor in the Chambers of Commerce. I noticed that women weren’t moving forward with their business as fast as men were.
I started to realise it was lack of confidence. I thought, with a little bit more support, these women would be able to move forward.
What is the point of the the Sewing Rooms?
We use sewing as a way to build confidence and create. The most important thing for the women we work with is that they feel connected.
We work with all women including women that have come through the criminal justice system. When they were ready to be released we gave them sewing machines, so they can make clothes for their children or even start up their own business.
#buysocial @IKEA
The Sewing Rooms @SewFabAcademy are getting into the festive spirit running children's activities pic.twitter.com/UK3QY2ZpVn— Paula Gamester (@PaulaGamester) December 22, 2018
When was the moment you decided to do this?
The Sewing Rooms came about because we heard that Ikea was looking to work with a social business to make curtains for their clients. It’s all about seeing an opportunity and knowing you can do things.
We now make curtains for their customers and run workshops in the store. Any commercial money we make is used to fund community activities, plus we try and create jobs for the people that we’ve trained in our Sew Fab Academy.
The more successful we are as a business, the better we can help our local community with sustainable jobs.
We employ one full time member of staff and two part time staff who started as volunteers.
What’s been your proudest moment so far?
There have been so many. One could be the Silver Sewers and seeing how our older women have really connected with each other.
Now we are co-producing projects with them, doing intergenerational stuff. Also the women in the criminal justice system that we have supported have gone on to set up their own business or make things for their homes, or seeing refugees we have worked with integrate into society.
What’s been hardest?
Being sustainable. Generating income and profit to continue funding all the things we want to do is really difficult.
What drives you when it gets hard?
Just seeing the smiles on the faces of the people we are supporting and seeing people move on. I am driven by people being empowered and making positive changes in their lives.
What’s the next step?
We just got some funding from the lottery to run upholstery with older men. That’s a new thing.
How did you vote in the EU referendum and why?
I voted to stay. I voted to stay because our area has benefited greatly by being part of the EU. I just feel we’re better being a European and being part of that bigger picture than out on our own. I have seen the benefits, I have been involved in European Social Fund projects and seen the benefit to cities.
How will the outcome affect what you do?
I’m worried that the investment into community initiatives that did come through the European Social Fund is going to stop.
What would you say to someone looking to do something similar?
The first thing is to have a business model that is sustainable and a clear vision of your values and the benefit to the community. I think the business comes first because if you haven’t got a business then you can’t do all the other great things, because you’ll need to generate the funds to do that. You have to have that passion and commitment to the cause and a clear idea of who and what you are supporting.
Dream big and don’t be afraid to collaborate with other social businesses because that’s when the magic can happen.
What does community mean to you?
It means friendship, respect.
