Joining the Scrapstore might be the most fun you have all year

We asked our members and volunteers why they keep coming back. The answers were shorter and better than anything we’d have written.

“It’s like Christmas every time I come”

That’s Margaret, a member for five years, and it’s the sentence we hear most often in different words. A scrapstore visit is a treasure hunt. The shelves change every week because what arrives changes every week. Regulars learn to come with a loose plan and leave with something they never planned.

“Fascinating store, especially for sculptors”

Jane said that on her very first visit, having joined that day. Artists and makers find range here that no supplier offers, because nobody chose the stock with a catalogue in mind. Whatever your material of choice, there’s a fair chance we have a version of it you haven’t seen before.

“A wonderful creative space”

Janice, from a charity that supports people with learning difficulties, likes that the store is “very inclusive”, and calls it “a great addition to the community”. Everyone is welcome here. Membership types include a reduced rate for residents of the estate we sit on, and nobody is asked anything about their circumstances beyond that.

“Nothing is ever too much trouble”

Fatima, who visits from a local school, says the staff “always go the extra mile to make sure you’re OK and have what you need”. That’s the volunteers as much as anyone: around 50 people who sort, pack the shelves, greet and help, and who, in their own words, enjoy it.

And the quiet part

Every bag that leaves the store is material rescued from landfill, and every membership helps keep the store open for the next person. You get the treasure; the city gets a little less waste; a school across the borough gets its project. We think that’s a good deal for a small annual fee.

Join in a few minutes

Pick the membership that fits you, join online, and come and see what’s on the shelves. Or visit once first and decide on the day.