Creative Kirklees award: fairandfunky

FAIRANDFUNKY raise awareness of global challenges surrounding the environment, recycling, climate change and Fairtrade.

And they often do it in an arty way.

The community interest company was founded eight years ago by teacher Helen Robinson and artist Sophie Bebb, whose motto is: ‘Empower people to take their own small steps to change the world’.

To bring their message to life, they stage interactive workshops in schools and community groups which show people the impact their everyday choices – especially food and fashion - has on the environment, from what they buy to what they throw away.

They are currently developing resources for schools and businesses to download and use to check their level of understanding on environmental issues and find out what steps they can take to reduce their carbon footprint.

fairandfunky run community SCRAPtastic workshops which show both children and adults how to use everyday items for creative play and crowdfunded to design and produce a SCRAPtastic book full of creative ideas using recycled household and everyday rubbish.

In short, they transform plastics,

“fairandfunky are a force to be reckoned with. They’re a powerhouse of ideas and energy.

“They are imaginative, creative, unstoppable and unique. They deserve this recognition for all they put into the community.”

Other projects organised by fairandfunky include three conferences a year for up to 10 schools, which show youngsters the journey our clothes and food travel to get to us and the impact on the environment.

They also hold upcycle fashion events at Holmfirth Civic Hall which encourage people to bring along the clothes they no longer wear and swap them for new, hoping to inspire similar Swap Shop Sew events in other towns and cities across the UK.

Helen and Sophie are very much involved in the Fairtrade movement and have been instrumental in proactively supporting Fairtrade producers across the globe.

They are active members of the Holme Valley Fairtrade Group and challenge the Fairtrade Foundation on what more can be done to support farmers.

Helen and Sophie also helped Colne Valley MP Jason McCartney and Halifax MP Holly Lynch set up the Fairtrade All Parliamentary Group in the House of Commons.

The majority of all their work is done voluntarily and any profits they make are ploughed back into the company.

cardboard, fabric, paper and plastic bottles into works of art. They were nominated by fairandfunky non-executive director Janet Bebb, who said: fairandfunky co-founders and directors Helen Robinson (left) and Sophie Bebb.