a place where we help one another achieve
A place to revisit old skills and find new ones
a place of laughter and fun
a place where we help one another achieve
Dreams
The established sewing collective has a gentle impact on the local area in providing a safe and supportive space for women. In fact so many women come along that it has become inhibitive to some who need a calmer, quieter environment. In order for Orts to remain a natural place for all women, no matter how they are feeling, to find space and support we have a dream...
Space
The room we use is in a Victorian church hall, it currently has a suspended ceiling, and we would like to build a mezzanine floor into this space, creating a quiet or retreat room, a place where women can be in company without feeling overwhelmed by people.
The additional space would allow greater flexibility and diversity to our activities, for example, a separate area for making soaps and lotions (several of the women have expressed an interest in exploring this) or other workshops.
As the women grow in confidence some of them have expressed an interest in taking tentative first steps towards a small enterprise. The new space would lend itself well to continuing conversations that arise from the activity downstairs, planning and so on.
"Sometimes I just need to get out and I know I will find friends waiting for me at Orts"
Accessibility
We really need our space to be more accessible for some of the group, we are redecorating and replacing some of the cloakroom equipment and hope to be able to level the floor in the Orts room soon so it is all on one level.
There are many untapped assets which the local culture and community possess. There is a desire to be involved in something larger than individual concerns (present in the nostalgia for the good old days when people looked out for each other); there is a certain grit and tenacity, a practical attitude to problem-solving and making ends meet which offers the potential for enterprise.
All these are assets which Orts seeks to celebrate and encourage people to make use of as we learn together what we already have to bring to the table
