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Craft Ribbons Create a Stir
Listed under: News
Published: Wednesday, May 04, 2011
South Devon has been bombarded with orange ribbons recently, all in aid to save a local coastguard station from being shut down.
Local businesswoman and owner of Bead Exclusive Samantha Hydock, joined forces with her local newspaper to promote a campaign to stop the closure of Brixham Coastguard base after the budget cuts hit her town. She came up with a crafty idea to create special ribbons for the public to show their support to her fiercely fought campaign, and protect the service that is close to her heart.
“We know that sometimes you think 'I wish I could do something to help' but this time we knew we could. Everyone knows someone in Torbay who has needed the Coastguard in some form or another. My father has used them when he had a boat and have friends who certainly would not be here were it not for the Coastguard team.”
It took Sam and her mum a week of working exhausting 18 hour days to make 2,000 distinctive orange and white SOS ribbons, in their own workshop, which were then available for people to pick up across the bay. The colours were chosen to symbolise the bright colours of a life buoy, and the pair both stepped out of their crafting comfort zone to design the creative keep-sakes. Within two weeks of the campaign taking off, 50 boxes were taking pride of place in shops and venues around Torbay, with the bands costing £1 each.
“All of the ribbons were made by my mum Sue and myself with help from family and friends. We also made the display boxes and money containers so it was really hard work.”
As the craze took off, the pair took great pride in seeing their work all over the town, giving a great boost to the crafting industry as well as the various charities the project was supporting.
“There is a huge open day on the 14th May when the Coastguard team in Brixham are having a get together to thank everybody locally who has shown them support for the campaign. It is our hope that the money raised will also be presented to the charities,” explains Sam.
“We have raised over £1500 that will be split equally between the Coastguards chosen charities of Grenville House and the Fishermans Mission.”
“We know that sometimes you think 'I wish I could do something to help' but this time we knew we could. Everyone knows someone in Torbay who has needed the Coastguard in some form or another. My father has used them when he had a boat and have friends who certainly would not be here were it not for the Coastguard team.”
It took Sam and her mum a week of working exhausting 18 hour days to make 2,000 distinctive orange and white SOS ribbons, in their own workshop, which were then available for people to pick up across the bay. The colours were chosen to symbolise the bright colours of a life buoy, and the pair both stepped out of their crafting comfort zone to design the creative keep-sakes. Within two weeks of the campaign taking off, 50 boxes were taking pride of place in shops and venues around Torbay, with the bands costing £1 each.
“All of the ribbons were made by my mum Sue and myself with help from family and friends. We also made the display boxes and money containers so it was really hard work.”
As the craze took off, the pair took great pride in seeing their work all over the town, giving a great boost to the crafting industry as well as the various charities the project was supporting.
“There is a huge open day on the 14th May when the Coastguard team in Brixham are having a get together to thank everybody locally who has shown them support for the campaign. It is our hope that the money raised will also be presented to the charities,” explains Sam.
“We have raised over £1500 that will be split equally between the Coastguards chosen charities of Grenville House and the Fishermans Mission.”
