A WELL-used community arts resource providing recreation and education to families and individuals has opened in its brand new location this month.

Tavistock Scrapstore has successfully negotiated a tenancy at Tavistock Library where it will have a dedicated space to continue to offer the use of recycled scrap for creative art and play, as it has done for more than a decade.

Tavistock Scrapstore was started at the Molly Owen Centre for people with learning disabilities, to provide a resource that could help clients develop social and work skills. Since then, it has provided recreation and education to families, schools, individuals and people with learning disabilities throughout its existence.

The charity collects all sorts of scrap from old costume jewellery to cellophane, paper, buttons, ribbon, tiles and fabric and sells them on at a low cost to be re-used for craft activities or to be made into something new.

As the Molly Owen Centre was set to be relocated, the scrapstore campaigned to find a new premises from which to work from and was delighted to be able to agree a tenancy in a central location at the library.

Chair of trustees for Tavistock Scrapstore Ursula Mann said: ‘Tavistock Scrapstore is an Aladdin’s cave of recycled crafting materials, from fabric and buttons to bottle-tops and boxes for just £2 a carrier bag.

‘We’re proud of our new central location and hope many people will find our resources useful for art, crafting and creative play.’

The charity will continue to offer workshops in the library, including free self-led workshops for children and low-cost workshops developing specific craft skills like machine and hand sewing.

Cllr Debo Sellis, West Devon Borough Councillor and Devon County Councillor for Tavistock, said: ‘Tavistock Scrapstore has a lot to offer families, artists and teachers. I’ve supported their search for this new space because it will put them in the heart of the community in Tavistock and works well alongside the Tavistock Library.’

Senior library supervisor at Tavistock Library Helen Cooper said: ‘Tavistock Library is delighted to be sharing space with Tavistock Scrapstore. We have done many activities together over the last few months and look forward to doing more.’

An open event is being held on September 23, from 1pm to 3pm for members and the public to visit the new location and discover what the charity has to offer the local Tavistock community.

For more information visit the website www.tavistockscrapstore.org.uk or email ursula@tavistockscrap store.org