Month: September 2021

Dressability, a small charity delivering a specialist clothing adaptation service on behalf of people with disabilities, has a vacancy for an articulate diligent individual to support our business development.

The role is office based in West Swindon and will be part-time 12 – 18 hours (Weds – Fri). 

The ideal candidate will be able to work with our manager to research & identify relevant funding opportunities and assist with letters and applications.

We can offer a friendly and rewarding working environment, where you will be able to use your business skills and enthusiasm to contribute to our life changing work with people with disabilities.

Please send C.V to Sharontombs@dressability.org.uk

Meet Inaaya – she was born in 2016 and as she doesn’t walk, gets herself around by shuffling on her bottom. Her mum began to be concerned that she would quickly become bruised & sore whilst also ruining her clothes & someone at school suggested she contact Dressability to see if they could help.

Dressability found a solution by adding protective patches to the seat of Inaaya’s jeans, leggings & trousers made from a reinforced, water-resistant fabric that helps prevent damage to sensitive skin & stops clothing items from wearing out. Once successfully trialled, patches were added to all sorts of other clothing! Over time, Dressability have modified the size & shape of the patches, ensuring they’re suitable for Inaaya’s needs. They’ve also added poppers to the inside legs to help make her dressing and personal care easier.

Inaaya’s mum is thrilled and says “the adaptations have made a big difference in terms of her sociability at school! Now that she’s comfortable and in padded clothing, she can go outside in the playground with her friends”.

Dressability recently had a two day long visit from fashion student Mylie, who’s at the Wells Blue School. Mylie is focusing her most recent project on fashion for people with disabilities, her interest in the area was sparked after her Gran badly broke her leg and due to complication from operations permanently walks assisted by crutches. 

During Mylie’s visit we worked with her to adapt a garment that would be suitable for someone with Kyphosis (also known as roundback or hunchback), by adding in an additional panel in the back neck. Everyone really enjoyed Mylie’s visit and it was positive being able to support a student with their studies.

Two of Dressability’s volunteers, Trish and Sian, recently completed a four-week sewing workshop at the Swindon branch of the Medaille Trust, they are one of the UK’s largest providers of safe houses who aim to deliver refuge and freedom from modern slavery.

Dressability’s volunteers worked with residents on a range of projects including making bunting and aprons. It’s been wonderful hearing the positive response of the Medaille Trust who said; ‘the ladies who had attended had really enjoyed learning to sew and creating something, and having the time with Trish and Sian’.