Rag, Tag 'n' Textile
Rag Tag ‘n’ Textile is based in Balmacara near Kyle Of Lochalsh and has a fabric storage and sorting unit in Broadford in Skye. The voluntary organisation operates as part of a larger organisation – Tag Highland.
Rag Tag work with people who have mental health issues and provide opportunities for them to learn new skills and develop their confidence so that they can return to work.
About seven years ago Rag Tag started recycling fabrics to make products, and consequently discovered that people liked the products and would purchase them.
The enterprise uses micro training which involves giving their trainees small steps in order to build up their confidence. Cindy Reiter who helps lead the enterprise has a background in psychology and has helped develop the organisation in a way so as to best support the individuals involved
The organisation creates products from donated recycled materials. They create numerous items such as: bags, tops and skirts. To make these items the trainees are taught many skills including sewing, knitting and using machines.
The enterprise has a training programme for volunteers which allows for progression; trainees start off, learn new skills and then to teach others the skills that they have learnt. This process helps both the person learning new skills and the person who is teaching them.
Rag Tag went through a design process to produce desirable products and created a brand. They also conducted market research and decided to target – mainly females – those aged 20 – 45 (as it was felt that this group would not have the skills to create the products themselves.) However, the enterprise has since discovered that their target market is much wider having received interest from numerous groups outwith theirs initial market.
Rag Tag creates a safe, supportive, no pressure, and non – judgemental environment. As all the trainees have varying degrees of mental health illness, it is recognised that they are all trying to do their best at their own level.
There is no pressure for the trainees to make products within a certain time; it is more important that they are comfortable building their confidence with the new skills which they are learning.
The main focus of the organisation is to help people increase their self esteem. It is important that the environment where the trainees work has no stigmas attached in regards to mental health – so that everyone feels included.
Furthermore, Rag Tag allows their members to be creative and to develop new ideas. Last year there were 21 trainees’ 9 of whom went on to employment (some with Rag Tag.)
Rag Tag is in the process of working towards being sustainable and is looking for funding to develop their organisation. The enterprise was provided with funding for three years on a pilot scheme to try and generate revenue. Rag Tag trained two individuals so that they could manufacture a range of training courses that the national curriculum was linked into. Rag Tag has developed a business model, and is trying to achieve sustainability from the sale of goods and training.
One of the biggest ongoing achievements is helping to rebuild people’s lives; some individuals had been unemployed for up to ten years and Rag Tag has given them a purpose again and provided them with new skills and opportunities.
The Fairy Project
One of Rag Tag ‘n’ Textiles successful projects involved fairies. The trainee’s conducted research and made mood boards. They then created fairies out of felt, and each fairy had its own story which could be real, heart- felt or fictional. They all worked together to create the creatures. Tag NHS also contributed towards the fairy collection. Adults and Children alike loved the fairies, and as each fairy had a story, it helped to promote writing and literacy skills. The fairies have been in Fort William and Dingwall libraries’ and will also befeatured in Ullapool.
Rag Tag has had various challenges to deal with:
Rag Tag has various projects for the future:
Success Story
“Mary started as a trainee with Rag Tag in 2007. She was referred to the enterprise by her CPN as she suffers from depression. Mary had been unemployed for four years and since joining Rag Tag she has been taught a range of skills. As people were purchasing the items that Mary had created her confidence increased.
Mary feels that Rag Tag has become an extension of her family and as staff have experience in mental health, or have had mental health problems themselves there is a sense of understanding.
Without Rag Tag Mary would not be working; the enterprise has given her purpose, a place of safety and sense of belonging. Furthermore, if Mary is not feeling well one day she is not pushed to work harder or pressurised in any way.
Another aspect of the enterprise is that they are always available to listen – Mary is able to talk to them about anything, such as family problems, and they provide support where they can.”
Rag Tag n Textile – Workshop 2, Balmacara Square, Kyle of Lochalsh IV40 8DJ
Tel: 01599 566793
email info@ragtagntextile.org
website: www.ragtagntextile.org
Rag Tag work with people who have mental health issues and provide opportunities for them to learn new skills and develop their confidence so that they can return to work.
About seven years ago Rag Tag started recycling fabrics to make products, and consequently discovered that people liked the products and would purchase them.
The enterprise uses micro training which involves giving their trainees small steps in order to build up their confidence. Cindy Reiter who helps lead the enterprise has a background in psychology and has helped develop the organisation in a way so as to best support the individuals involved
The organisation creates products from donated recycled materials. They create numerous items such as: bags, tops and skirts. To make these items the trainees are taught many skills including sewing, knitting and using machines.
The enterprise has a training programme for volunteers which allows for progression; trainees start off, learn new skills and then to teach others the skills that they have learnt. This process helps both the person learning new skills and the person who is teaching them.
Rag Tag went through a design process to produce desirable products and created a brand. They also conducted market research and decided to target – mainly females – those aged 20 – 45 (as it was felt that this group would not have the skills to create the products themselves.) However, the enterprise has since discovered that their target market is much wider having received interest from numerous groups outwith theirs initial market.
Rag Tag creates a safe, supportive, no pressure, and non – judgemental environment. As all the trainees have varying degrees of mental health illness, it is recognised that they are all trying to do their best at their own level.
There is no pressure for the trainees to make products within a certain time; it is more important that they are comfortable building their confidence with the new skills which they are learning.
The main focus of the organisation is to help people increase their self esteem. It is important that the environment where the trainees work has no stigmas attached in regards to mental health – so that everyone feels included.
Furthermore, Rag Tag allows their members to be creative and to develop new ideas. Last year there were 21 trainees’ 9 of whom went on to employment (some with Rag Tag.)
Rag Tag is in the process of working towards being sustainable and is looking for funding to develop their organisation. The enterprise was provided with funding for three years on a pilot scheme to try and generate revenue. Rag Tag trained two individuals so that they could manufacture a range of training courses that the national curriculum was linked into. Rag Tag has developed a business model, and is trying to achieve sustainability from the sale of goods and training.
One of the biggest ongoing achievements is helping to rebuild people’s lives; some individuals had been unemployed for up to ten years and Rag Tag has given them a purpose again and provided them with new skills and opportunities.
- Rag Tag has recently created a sales area for their products in their Balmacara premises.
- Have produced high quality desirable products
- Established training programmes
- The enterprise created a commissioned 6ft by 4 ft Rag Tag Rag Rug, which all the members were able to get involved with and was a large project for the enterprise.
The Fairy Project
One of Rag Tag ‘n’ Textiles successful projects involved fairies. The trainee’s conducted research and made mood boards. They then created fairies out of felt, and each fairy had its own story which could be real, heart- felt or fictional. They all worked together to create the creatures. Tag NHS also contributed towards the fairy collection. Adults and Children alike loved the fairies, and as each fairy had a story, it helped to promote writing and literacy skills. The fairies have been in Fort William and Dingwall libraries’ and will also befeatured in Ullapool.
Rag Tag has had various challenges to deal with:
- Lack of funding
- Staff being ‘stretched’
- Staff being fragile due to their mental illnesses
- Expenses, due to the distances involved with the workshops
- Economic downturn has lead to people buying less produce resulting in a decrease of sales.
Rag Tag has various projects for the future:
- Consolidate on innovation and changes
- Expansion – such as opening another workshop
- Sell their produce more widely
- Increase their online presence
- Increase the training that they provide
- Sell to more prominent retailers
- Hoping to offer qualifications in sewing in the future, so that individuals can gain qualifications at their own pace and then become tutors
- Hoping to have a trailer that they can sit outside various retail areas once a week so that the public can donate fabrics etc.
Success Story
“Mary started as a trainee with Rag Tag in 2007. She was referred to the enterprise by her CPN as she suffers from depression. Mary had been unemployed for four years and since joining Rag Tag she has been taught a range of skills. As people were purchasing the items that Mary had created her confidence increased.
Mary feels that Rag Tag has become an extension of her family and as staff have experience in mental health, or have had mental health problems themselves there is a sense of understanding.
Without Rag Tag Mary would not be working; the enterprise has given her purpose, a place of safety and sense of belonging. Furthermore, if Mary is not feeling well one day she is not pushed to work harder or pressurised in any way.
Another aspect of the enterprise is that they are always available to listen – Mary is able to talk to them about anything, such as family problems, and they provide support where they can.”
Rag Tag n Textile – Workshop 2, Balmacara Square, Kyle of Lochalsh IV40 8DJ
Tel: 01599 566793
email info@ragtagntextile.org
website: www.ragtagntextile.org
