Imagine a place, fully stocked with tools and materials, with someone there to tutor you to upskill yourself in using tools, learning a craft, even fixing your bike, before splashing out on expensive equipment.

Now imagine that place as a drop-in centre where you come when you have the time and energy instead of signing up to so many days a week for a year.

A friendly, fun and inclusive community hub, where people are more important than profit.

This Is The Living Studio.

A brand-new social enterprise, not-for-profit running in the back rooms of Adat Yeshua on Essex Street, Norwich.

Years gone by, make do and mend was how people saved money, and an increasing number of experts today agree that crafting helps improve mental health.

Make do & mend the 21st century way!

Teaching communities how to up-cycle and re-use in a relaxed atmosphere gives:

* Self-confidence in learning new transferable skills

* Better education about recycling / re-using / re-purposing

* Provide skills needed to improve mental health, homes and neighbourhoods.

Donations are key

As a not-for-profit enterprise being fully stocked with equipment like upholstery tools, cutting machines, DIY tools, sewing machines, brushes, stencils, and all kinds of materials from wood to clay and vinyl, paint and fabrics is a challenge.

The studio needs donations for the people of Norwich to come together to learn skills in DIY and upcycling furniture, to experience crafts by reusing items, and discover how to make home decor, cards, gifts, art, fabric printing, decoupage, but also to network, learn from each other, make friends and more.

Funds and Help Given

The studio has already been given a huge donation from an anonymous source for electricity installation for lights and heating. Which has now been installed.

A wall taken down, a door handle and lock fitted on the doors. Security alarm, and all walls painted by local people, and local builder gave his time and services free to fit a stud wall and door between studio room and kitchen area.

But the studio still needs funds for:

* Insulation of the two outside walls with batten and fire safe plasterboard.

* Tools, like upholstery hammers, staple guns, glue guns, craft knives, paper cutters, glass cutters, vices, moulds, drills and other DIY, bicycle and craft tools .

* Materials, like furniture wax, paints and wood stains, clay, wool, glues, cotton thread, fabrics, vinyl’s, HTV, t-shirts and more .

For the community

Every penny you give will go towards this social enterprise / not for profit business, making sure low-income communities are supported in learning skills to improve their circumstances and environments.

Anything else?

There is an ever growing need to stop plastics and similar from landfill. The Living Studio helps to address this issue with education and upcycled art.

Your support is vital and means so much, we can't do this without you.

Thank you.

Find out more:

Facebook page - https://www.facebook.com/TheLivingStudioNorwich/

EDP feature - https://www.edp24.co.uk/news/emma-steer-to-open-upcycling-centre-the-living-studio-norwich-1-6232956

Adat Yeshua Messianic Synagogue - http://www.adatyeshua.co.uk/the-living-studio/