- Retro Graphix turning out of date council advertising banners into sleeping bags
- Sleeping bags to be used by homeless charities
- Helping make a difference in the local community and the environment
Tamworth Borough Council are working in partnership with local company, Retro Graphix, to provide them with out of date advertising banners so they can turn them into waterproof sleeping bag shells to keep homeless people warm and dry.
Not only are the banners saved from the waste heap, but they are to be put to fantastic use by homeless charities.
For Chris Cooke, owner of Retro Graphix which is a local Tamworth business, the main drive for this type of sleeping bag was that with normal sleeping bags, they can get wet which can lead to hypothermia and potentially death. After design revisions the product can now fold into a bag to keep personal belongings dry.
To create the bags, Retro Graphix is working with Event Cycle who also specialise in upcycling materials for different use.
Councillor David Foster, portfolio holder for environmental sustainability, waste and recycling said: “I am so happy that Retro Graphix has started this initiative.
“Providing Retro Graphix with our old PVC banners means they create bags that are waterproof. The way Retro Graphix has designed them means they direct water away from the person, keeping them warm and dry. Also, upcycling this material is better for the environment and there is a real benefit for those experiencing homelessness.”
Local groups and charities can apply for funding to order the bags so they can get them for free. As a business, Chris is also looking at funding to produce more.
Chris Cooke from Retro Graphix said: “A couple of years into running the company, whilst being a councillor for Tamworth Borough Council, I took part in a YMCA sleepout with a prototype PVC bag I designed. I was kept warm through the night.
“Since the first production bag was given to a local charity, I’ve been contacted by several groups who have requested them. Two of these with thanks to Cllrs Helen Hadley, Andy Wells, Carol Dean, Craig Adams. Lee Wood, Pat Pallett, Chris Bain and David Foster are putting in an application. This will allow more than 40 bags to be produced for Tamworth.
“I cannot express my gratitude enough to everyone who has helped. This initiative is the first of its kind for Tamworth and the feedback has already been amazing.”
“If you can help in anyway, or you are a local group who would also like to be involved please get in touch with me. Tamworth has always been a caring community, together with residents and local businesses we can all make a difference.”
Visit the website if you want to help support with costs: https://retrographix.co.uk/product/pvc-sleeping-bags. All donations help with production costs and allows Retro Graphix to give away the bags when requested and allows people to support the initiative.
Anyone homeless or at risk of becoming homeless could contact Tamworth Borough Council straight away. Helping anyone who is homeless or at risk of becoming homeless if a priority for the council, and there are a range of services available to support no matter what the circumstances. For more information see the council website at www.tamworth.gov.uk and search homeless.