What We Do
Upcycle Kernow CIC offers practical solutions to usable waste at a grass-roots level, and offers a public recycling point. We accept Terracycle packaging, wearable shoes, clothing & accessories (which are redistributed through our Community Swishes), batteries, printing ink cartridges and usable wood. We also accept a variety of tools for use in the workshop, the Repair Cafe and in the Tool Library.
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We also offer a SESI products refill service, refilling your plastic bottles multiple times, at a cost effective price for high grade, environmentally friendly products.
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Educational workshops, seminars, team building programmes, support groups and Upcycling Workshops are part of the services provided at Upcycle Kernow, offering a safe, fun environment to explore your creative or practical side, a dedicated space to learn new skills, develop artistic passions and meet like-minded people who are keen to support community wellbeing and climate action through meaningful activities.
If you run a community group, event or business, and would like us to host a tailor-made workshop for your group or setting, then please contact Dawn here.
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Community Events bring people of all ages together, beating social isolation, promoting positive mental health habits, as well as saving you money and looking after the planet!
Together we
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learn, share, motivate and inspire each other
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champion mental health and positive wellbeing choices
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save money and save the planet
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celebrate social inclusion & meet like-minded people
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are accessible for all; if you can't get to us we'll come to you!
Repair Cafes are a popular place to meet other like-minded people, keen to repair not replace all your broken items, electrical, mechanical or textile based, jewellery, toys and even furniture!! These community days are successful due to the volunteers who offer their skills, committed to saving items from landfill and advocating the Right to Repair. A great place to pick up tips and hints for general maintenance of all sorts of items around the home.
In need of a wardrobe update? Got too many clothes cluttering up space? Why not join in one of our Community Swishes - a clothes swap party on an epic scale! Swishing is a great option for those on a tight budget, are mindful of the environment,
or would just like a wardrobe update.​
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#Tooligans is a programme specifically for vulnerable teenagers and young adults, giving them the opportunity to use a variety of hand and power tools to design and create items for their
school, youth project or supported housing. This gives them real hands on practical experience, laying the foundations for future developments. Please contact us for further details.
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Our Mobile Workshop can bring these meaningful, fun activities to your local community, whether that be town square, community centre, supported housing scheme, therapy centre, or village fete.
Why not contact us to see how we can bring our services to you?
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#The Wood Shed is a developing community project, to construct a solar powered, insulated workshop, and will expand access to our Rent-a-Bench projects, Upcycling workshops, Tool Library, the 3 R's, The Tooligans Programmes as well as other planned projects.
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Upcycle Kernow CIC has also build a great reputation for designing innovative, sustainable festival and event décor, delivering inspiring décor for local events such as The Masked Ball, The Porthleven Food Festival, Tunes in The Dunes, The Great Estates and Tropical Pressure Festivals. We have also participated in a number of festival engagements across the South West, bringing our Upcycling workshops into the field.
Contact us for further information if you'd like us to attend your summer event or festival.
Meet the Team
From the fixers at our Mobile Workshop & Repair Cafes, the staff who run our shop, the creatives who make everything look so beautiful, and the admin fans who keep us all organised, UpK is manned by dedicated volunteers and expert creators. Everybody has a skill to share, and people's quirks are admired here.
Dawn Thompson
Project Leader
Neil Pinner
Volunteer Fixer
Tool Library & Repair Cafe
Martin & Matt
Volunteer Fixers
Repair Cafe
Karen Jeffereys
Terracycle Support
Safeguarding Officer
Mark Griffiths
Volunteer Fixer
Repair Cafe
Mrs Tea
V.I.P.
Stitch Club Mascot
Volunteer Vacancies
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Repair Cafe Fixers (carpentry, electronics, sewing, soldering or any other fix-it skill)
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General Maintenance - any help keeping up with the general maintenance of the building is a great help
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Tool Library - assessing tool donations, updating the database & running the inventory, maintenance on returned tools
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Admin assistant - record keeping, policy writing, funding proposals & bid writing, record keeping, social media & website updates
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Textile warriors - sorting donations and redistributing them through the various schemes from Swish to Scraperdashery
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and most importantly...people who can make a good cup of tea!
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Get in touch to volunteer by clicking here...