First ever lend and mend hub launched in Scotland

Inverclyde now has a community center of its sort that encourages people to fix and reuse clothing, textiles, and other items.

As part of a ground-breaking new initiative being provided by Inverclyde Council’s libraries service in collaboration with the Scottish Libraries Information Council (SLIC) and financed under the £1 million John Lewis Circular Fund, the Lend and Mend Hub is launched at Greenock’s South West Library.

Residents across Inverclyde will have free access to the tools they need to fix, reuse, rent, and upcycle common things thanks to the hub, which will also assist combat the rising cost of living issue and the climate emergency by reducing trash.

Many locals still recall their parents, grandparents, aunts or uncles pulling out the sewing kit to fix a pair of trousers or teaching them how to change a fuse. In the past, fixing clothing and other household items was a typical practise for most local houses. As buying new grew more accessible and practical for the mass market, many of those practises fell out of favour over time. In times of economic and environmental difficulty, public libraries play a particularly important role in Scotland’s communities.

The South West Library in Inverclyde has received funding to renovate a section where individuals can learn how to upcycle and pick up new skills for no cost. The hub itself has furniture that has been repurposed and upcycled.

Beginning with textiles, there will soon be introductory programs that teach things like fundamental stitching techniques to aid people in mending and modifying objects before branching out into other fields. Young craftsmen from the local Lady Alice Primary school showcased their talents during the launch at South West Library. There were also seminars using basic sewing machines, hand-stitching demonstrations on the back of denim jackets, and opportunity for guests to try it themselves.