Overview

Inspired by a student-led idea, Bourne Community College’s project on textile waste reduction won the West Sussex Climate Enterprise Award, leading to the creation of the county-wide Sew It! Mend It! Make It! Programme.

Key Achievements

• Developed a student-led sewing club, teaching students to repair, customise, and repurpose clothing.
• Influenced the creation of a new county-wide initiative, now available to all schools in West Sussex.
• Encouraged hands-on sustainability, helping students develop practical skills while reducing textile waste.
• Promoted a circular economy mindset, showing students how small actions can create big environmental changes.

Bourne Community College’s student-driven idea led Wastebuster to develop a full ‘Sew It! Mend It! Make It!’ Toolkit, offering instructional videos, lesson plans, and activity guides to support schools in tackling textile waste.

Teacher Perspective
"It’s wonderful to see how a student’s idea has grown into a programme that inspires schools across the county. Giving young people a voice in sustainability leads to meaningful, real-world change." – Katy Newnham, Director at Wastebuster

📌Access the Sew It! Mend It! Make It! Toolkit and start your own project!