Latest news with #MadeinStirling
Daily Record
20-06-2025
- Business
- Daily Record
Social enterprise hit by 'disaster' as thief swipes £5,000 worth of equipment
Green Aspirations is a social enterprise focused on reconnecting people to their environment, through woodlands based at the Cardross Estate, Port of Menteith. A rural Stirling social enterprise was left reeling this week after a brazen thief stole equipment worth £5,000. Green Aspirations is a social enterprise dedicated to reconnecting people with their environment, operating from woodlands based at the Cardross Estate, Port of Menteith. The enterprise was established by Paul Cookson, who now manages the company alongside his partner Jo Edwards. They were devastated to find that several crucial tools had been pinched upon their return from holiday last weekend. Green Aspirations offers workshops, kids holiday clubs, events, products (charcoal, traditional games, other small items), volunteering opportunities, and sustainable woodland management – all focused on imparting traditional rural skills, such as green woodworking and blacksmithing. The emphasis is on teaching people to create things themselves and encouraging them to consider the origins and manufacturing processes of items. The enterprise has been operational since 2013. An online fundraiser has now been launched to help the group replace the stolen items. Jo told the Stirling Observer: "We had around £5,000 of equipment stolen that's really essential in what we do, so it's been a real blow, but at the same time, people are being really generous with their donations and offers of help, which has been amazing." Among the stolen items were two chainsaws – a STIHL 231 and a STIHL 661 , am Alaskan chainsaw mill, a generator, a circular saw, and various hand tools. Jo added: "The chainsaws are an integral part of the charcoal side of the business, and we're probably the second biggest charcoal producer in Scotland, so losing them is a bit of a disaster. "We buy our charcoal wood from the Cambusbarron Development Trust, and then process it on our site, so we've had to borrow a chainsaw this week to keep that going. "The chainsaw mill is used for preparing materials for workshops, so we've had to postpone the workshop we had planned for this weekend, as we can't get the pieces ready. While we've not cancelled, it does mean that the weekend we've moved it to now can't be used for any other workshops. "The other tools are also used for workshop prep, as well as helping us make the traditional games – stocked in Made in Stirling, so we'll have to find another way to keep that going while we sort things out." Regarding financial struggles, Jo added: "We're around 90 per cent supported through income we generate ourselves, rather than through grant funding, so all of this means that if we don't generate the income, then we can't pay our bills, or our one member of staff who works with us a couple of days a week. "We rarely pay ourselves as it is, although we were nearly at that point before this happened, so [this is] just another frustration." The Crowdfunder page states: "As a social enterprise, we operate on a pretty tight budget. So when something like this happens – the theft of a number of pretty expensive bits of kit – it really sets you back. We're looking for various sources of funding to help us replace what's been taken, but we're looking at all the avenues we can. So we're hoping you can help!".
The Courier
20-05-2025
- Business
- The Courier
Former fashion designer on success of Stirling shop that's become creative hub
What started as a small Stirling arts project 13 years ago is now a thriving shop and creative space for local artists. Made in Stirling began in 2012 as a small project by arts charity Creative Stirling. It has since evolved into a thriving community interest company in the heart of the city which gives local artists a development space and customers the opportunity to buy their products and designs. Profits are reinvested into the local artists and partially returned to Creative Stirling to fund broader cultural work. At the helm of the local enterprise is Paul Jenkins, a former fashion designer who started volunteering with the organisation eight years ago. Its initial location in Murray Street was modest, but as interest grew so did the demands. Paul said: 'It became really popular and was generating a huge turnover. We had to create a community interest company to manage it properly. 'It was just too successful to remain a small project. Eight years ago, we moved into a former convenience store on 44 King Street.' Today Made in Stirling houses seven artist studios, an expansive retail shop, a gallery space, and an events area that hosts everything from corporate away days to creative workshops. 'The core of what we do is giving people access, whether that's through coming into the shop and buying something, attending a workshop, or being part of our artist community,' Paul said. 'It has become a place for Stirlingers to enjoy and make art.' The shop operates on a hybrid model where local artists rent a space to display their work and a studio where they can create. They can reduce their costs by volunteering in the shop. 'We take commission on the sales, but if they volunteer a couple of days a month, they get their rent back,' Paul continued. 'Those who do volunteer usually end up doing the best. They get to meet their customers directly. 'Often people want to meet the person who made the jewellery or painting. It is like a marketplace.' Each available spot is carefully curated to maintain quality and variety. Paul explained: 'We are inundated with applications now. It has become quite hard to decide who to take. 'We try not to duplicate styles. If we already have someone who does landscape oil painting, we're unlikely to take someone similar.' The shop also hosts regular workshops and courses, led by the artists themselves. Some are short weekend classes, while others offer full-day creative experiences. The shop has plans for future growth and wants to provide more opportunities for artists. Creative Stirling was recently granted multi-year funding from Creative Scotland. Made In Stirling draws in tourists visiting the town, while the local support has remained strong. An estimated 50% of the sales come from residents. The shop has started collaborating with tourism companies.
