Dressability is a friendly and welcoming independent charity which supports the clothing needs of individuals with disabilities and those with limited dexterity. A registered charity established in 1998, Dressability offers heavily subsidised alterations to those who need our support.
We provide a personal, tailored and bespoke service developing practical solutions to everyday problems. By adapting people’s clothing and not their style, we enable our clients to maintain their independence, and enjoy a sense of wellbeing based on their own personal choice. From hems to haberdashery, a personal, tailored and bespoke service is provided, focused on the development of practical and innovative solutions to everyday problems.
Our service is provided on a personal basis sensitive to the specific needs of those we help. Clients are welcome to visit us at our fully accessible premises and for those who lack transport, provision of an outreach service is available. Our opening hours are generally from 9am until 3pm although it is advisable to contact us to make an appointment.
Anyone can self-refer themselves to become a client of Dressability; individuals do not need to have a disability to access our service. We always try our best to ensure our approach is open and supportive to those who are wondering if we can help them through our service.
Our Mission
Our mission is to empower individuals and families in need by providing access to quality clothing, fostering dignity, confidence, and wellbeing. We are dedicated to reducing clothing waste through sustainable practices, encouraging community involvement, and promoting the values of compassion and social responsibility. Through collaboration, advocacy, and thoughtful stewardship, we strive to create a positive impact in our local and wider communities, ensuring that everyone has the opportunity to feel comfortable, valued, and included.
We are committed to treating all staff, trustees, and volunteers with respect, fairness, and integrity. Our organisation values the unique contributions of every individual and strives to create an inclusive environment where everyone feels valued and supported. We prioritise open communication, professional development, and wellbeing to ensure that our team can thrive and deliver on our mission.
Volunteering
At Dressability we are fortunate to have the support of around 20 volunteers. Our team of volunteers do not just provide ongoing assistance with our core operation in adapting clothing, but also making a positive contribution to local community projects.
We have sewing volunteers who enjoy making various items for adults and children who need our support. They meet up once a week to share their craft skills with us and each other. We also have admin volunteers who assist with the general running of the office and help us to bring fund-raising ideas to life. We are hugely grateful to all our volunteers as without them, we couldn’t offer the service that we do!
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Fundraising
As a charity we are always trying to come up with new fundraising initiatives to ensure we are doing all we can to help our clients.
If you have any suggestions or would like to take part in an event on our behalf, we can supply materials and bags of enthusiasm to help get your idea off the ground.
Please contact us if you are would like to discuss an idea – or are planning to run, bake cakes or hold a quiz night on our behalf and would like to borrow collection buckets and leaflets. We can also provide poster templates and sponsor forms to help with the admin.
We love seeing pictures and hearing feedback from the events. In some cases, we can actually track the progress of our fundraisers whilst they compete, which is particularly enjoyable for our team.
All of the funds raised from these events go towards providing our service to clients that need it most. We really appreciate the support!
Become a Trustee
We are always looking for new, professional trustees to join our board and add value to the charity.
If you feel that you may be able to offer support please do get in touch. We are particularly keen to hear from people in the Swindon area who have the following:
- Financial/Accounting experience
- Business Strategy experience
- Sewing/Dressmaking skills
- Experience of caring for a person with a disability
- Recent experience in an NHS or other similar healthcare setting
Board meetings are held monthly in West Swindon and we would anticipate a 2 hour time commitment per month.
For more info please complete our CONTACT US form below or contact Jean Crawford by email on: jean.crawford@dressability.org.uk
Friends of Dressability
We are extremely proud to be working with a number of organisations who help Dressability. This can be via donations, supplying materials or working in collaboration on projects.
Find out more about Our Friends
