Dawn Prosser from Renew Swindon - Summer Q&A 2021

Let's continue to celebrate the variety of business owners we have in our region and beyond. Today we're talking to Dawn Prosser, Renew Swindon which is based in Chippenham Close community centre in Penhill. The organisation's aim is to help men and women with their mental well-being by providing welcoming, supportive social spaces for them to pursue practical activities. make friends, reduce isolation and feel valued.

JUNE is the first month of Summer – what will you be doing this summer in your role?

Welcoming old and new members to our community centre for ‘shed’ activities such as woodwork, upcycling and upholstery. Over the next two months, we are making mobile shop display units and upcycling dining chairs and tables for a charity called Swindon Hub, who are planning to open a new cultural and community hub in the centre of town.

What are your personal plans for summer activities if you feel happy to share? 

Putting up a more permanent gazebo in our garden to enjoy some alfresco meals!

Does June hold any particular significance for your organisation? 

The end of June is the 4th anniversary for Renew!

June is National Smile Month. With that in mind, what things in your business/organisation/role make you smile? 

Seeing new life being breathed into furniture (and people!) 

Are there any things in business generally which make you ‘less smiley’?

Logjams!

June is often associated in nature with growth and abundance – what are your plans for growth in your organisation this year? 

Building a wider team for the organisation and becoming a CIO so we can get a grant to restore the garden and courtyard area to its former glory and put in some central heating!

As we hit this mid point in 2021 and we’re still coming out of the pandemic – which one business has really supported or helped you over the last quarter? 

Frenchic furniture paint for which we are an pfficial stockist and our loyal customers who have been buying it!  

Frenchic have managed to keep us supplied over the last year and our customers have kept buying it which has allowed us to pay all our overheads without having to ask for funds and it’s kept us going!. 

Have you got any events planned for the coming months which you’d like to mention – where you and/or your business will take a leading role? 

Our main event for July will taking a leading role in providing the furniture for Swindon Hub’s new community café and their mobile shop display units and running upcycling workshops to help us with this.

Have you got any summer services or special offers you’d like to mention? 

On July 10, we are once again offering the chance to learn (or share) some upcycling skills and help a good cause at the same time.

It’s a  unique opportunity for  to learn how to revamp furniture into unique and beautiful additions for your home using Frenchic Furniture paint, an award-winning and eco-friendly range of chalk paint.

However, instead of paying our usual cost, you will be invited to make a suggested donation of £10 towards the cost of running the workshop and paying it forward by preparing and painting some dining tables and chairs for a new community cafe, that will form part of a new non-profit community hub opening in June. Lunch is included, along with plenty of tea, coffee and cake!!

If you already love upcycling and fancy a fun day out, having some face-to face interaction, and enjoying a nice lunch, why not come along and share your skills. You could even bring a friend or two! 

And finally: 

To find out more or book onto a workshop, just visit our website www.renewswindon.org.uk or our Facebook page Renewswindon.