Use Scrapstores!

Scrapstores are a fantastic resource for running any group that supports visual arts learning!

If you run an after-school art club, visiting your local scrap store can help you access a wide range of high-quality art and craft materials for your members. The range of materials in scrapstores changes from day to day and could include card, paper, textiles, paint, corks, wool, cardboard tubes, netting, gauze and a thousand other things!

All scrapstores have different means of accessing their scrap materials. In some, you need to pay an individual membership fee, whilst in others, you simply pay for the scrap you take on the day. Below is a list of scrapstores nationwide, with contact details for each. If you are interested in listing your scrap store on the AccessArt website, then please contact rachel@accessart.org.uk.

You can see inspiring resources on using scrapstore materials here: A Wealth of Materials

Renée Materials (Online)

“Renée Materials reduces waste and cuts emissions on a large scale by offering businesses’ off-cuts, surplus stock, and leftover materials for reuse. We feature high-quality materials like paper, wood, textiles, leather, glass, metal, and yarn through our marketplace.”

Play and Recycling Centre, Derby

“PARC is a registered charity in Derby providing mountains of fantastic, recycled resources as well as opportunities for people to learn about how we can actively support our environment through reducing waste, re-using and recycling.

We offer recycled resources and materials and prevent these going into landfill. We process these to provide low-cost resources. We encourage creativity and provide opportunities to gain creative skills and share our ideas for how resources can be used. We want people to re-cycle, recycle, repurpose and re-love materials and reduce landfill.

Low priced recycled materials such as wools, fabrics, beads, ribbon, haberdashery, vinyl sheets, blind fabrics, art paper and paints, craft resources and household paint.”

Address and Opening Times:

Play And Recycling Centre
6 – 10 Werburgh Street
Derby
DE22 3QG
01332 299165

Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday 10am-2pm
First and Third Saturday of every month 9:15am-2pm

The Gloucestershire Resource Centre, Gloucester

“The Gloucestershire Resource Centre has been promoting creativity in the arts, health, play and education sector through the re-use of materials from industry and business for over 32 years now. We don’t specialise in any type of materials as we have to run with the surplus being generated by local businesses within our catchment of Gloucestershire at the time, We rely on the national community of scrap stores to exchange materials we we can provide variety and choice for our 1300 plus members.”