July 2025 Newsletter
Welcome to the July edition of the Charnwood Eco Hub newsletter! 🌿🌞
Summer is here, and with it comes a packed calendar of exciting events and new developments at the Hub! We’re delighted to invite you to our vibrant programme of creative and sustainable workshops over the coming months, including a bike repair workshop, a hands-on fabric journal roll session, a slow sashiko-style stitching workshop, and an inspiring talk on sustainable fashion. There’s something for everyone—whether you’re looking to learn a new skill, connect with others, or live more sustainably.
We also want to do a shout out to Barrow Greener Living for hosting their first Clothes Swap - which we provided clothes rails and hangers for, and to The Fix It Group 23 for their World Earth Day Repair Cafe, which received coverage from BBC Radio Leicester. We’re also thrilled to be supporting Loughborough PRIDE next month—celebrating inclusion, community, and sustainability with pride. 🌈
Looking ahead, we’re already gearing up for our Sustainability Fair in September, so save the date - Sunday 21st September - more details coming soon!
In exciting news, we’ve recently been awarded funding by Loughborough University to purchase a smoothie bike, which we’ll be repurposing as a seed bomb bike to bring along to events—combining fun, fitness, and environmental action in one!
Don’t forget to check out our refill station range, which is proving so popular we will soon be offering even more eco-friendly options to help you reduce waste. And please note: our opening hours have changed, so be sure to check the updated times before you drop by!
Thanks, as always, for being part of the Charnwood Eco Hub community. We’re looking forward to a brilliant month with you all!
Exciting Additions to Our Refill Station!
We’re expanding our refill station to offer even more ways to reduce waste and live sustainably! You can now refill your own containers with shampoo, conditioner, fabric conditioner, and toilet cleaner — eco-friendly essentials without the plastic waste.
We’re also going to be stocking a lovely range of handmade dishcloths, make-up remover pads, and other sustainable accessories, perfect for everyday low-waste living - coming soon!
Don’t have your own bottles? No problem! We now sell reusable plastic bottles with either spray nozzles or pump tops to suit your needs. We also have a small number of free repurposed bottles available—first come, first served!
If you have any clean, empty plastic bottles at home (especially with spray or pump tops), we’d be so grateful for your donations to help us keep the reuse cycle going.
Let’s keep working together to cut down on single-use plastics—one refill at a time!
Discover, Create, and Repair at Charnwood Eco Hub – Upcoming Workshops!
Join us at Charnwood Eco Hub this season for a hands-on series of creative and sustainable workshops designed to inspire and connect our community. Whether you’re curious about mending, making, or mindful fashion, there’s something for everyone:
📔 Fabric Roll Journal Making – Saturday 12th July, 11am-1pm. Tap into your creativity by crafting a unique, tactile journal using fabric scraps. A wonderful way to upcycle and document your eco journey.
🧵 Sashiko-Style Stitching – Saturday 26th July, 11am-1pm. Learn the beautiful Japanese art of visible mending. This meditative stitching technique is perfect for giving new life to worn clothes while adding decorative flair - SOLD OUT.
🚲 Bike Repair Cafe – Saturday 19th July, 11am-1pm. Bring your bike and learn essential maintenance skills from experienced mechanics. Perfect for beginners or anyone looking to travel greener. No need to book, just turn up!
📚 Pocket Journal Making - Saturday 9th August, 11am-1pm. Join us for a relaxing pocket journal making workshop, where you’ll create a beautiful, hand-stitched journal using upcycled papers—perfect for notes, sketches, or mindful moments on the go.
Spaces are limited, so book early to avoid missing out! Let’s stitch, fix, and rethink sustainability—together.
Tool & Scrapstore Donations
We’re always grateful for donations to our Library of Things and Scrapstore, but due to limited space and volunteer capacity, we kindly ask that you get in touch with us by email before bringing anything in. If you think you have something that might be useful, please send a description and a photo of the item(s) to us first — this helps us assess whether we can accept it. Please note that our volunteers are not able to accept ad hoc or unapproved donations during opening hours. Thank you for helping us keep the Hub organised and running smoothly!
Discover the Joy of Play at Charnwood Toy Library!
Did you know there’s a treasure trove of toys, games, and educational resources right here in our community? Charnwood Toy Library is a fantastic local service that lets families borrow high-quality toys — just like a book library, but for play!
Whether you’re looking to try out new toys, reduce clutter at home, or find budget-friendly ways to support your child’s development, Charnwood Toy Library is here to help. From puzzles and pretend play to baby toys and outdoor equipment, there’s something for every age and stage.
✨ Why join the Toy Library?
✔ Save money
✔ Reduce waste
✔ Keep playtime fresh and exciting
✔ Connect with a like-minded community
Perfect for parents, carers, childminders, and grandparents!
Based in Charnwood at Fearon Hall, Loughborough, the library is run by passionate volunteers who believe every child deserves access to quality play.
Let’s support this brilliant local initiative—because play matters! 💚
Join us at Loughborough PRIDE – August 16th!
We’re excited to be part of this year’s Loughborough PRIDE on Saturday August 16th, where we’ll be hosting a colourful craft stall for all ages! Come and get creative with us as we make rainbow ribbon wands and friendship bracelets — a fun, hands-on way to celebrate love, identity, sustainability and community. Whether you’re dropping by for a quick craft or staying for the celebrations, we’d love to see you there and share in the joy of PRIDE! We’ll also be running a drop in workshop on Saturday 2nd August from 11am-1pm to create squares for the PRIDE picnic blanket that Fearon Hall are creating and which we are proud to have contributed materials to. All welcome 🌈🌈🌈
Plastic Free July: Small Steps, Big Impact
Every piece of plastic we refuse, replace, or recycle is a vote for a cleaner planet. This Plastic Free July, let’s challenge ourselves to break up with single-use plastics and embrace more sustainable habits.
Here are a few easy ways to start:
✅ Carry a reusable water bottle and coffee cup
✅ Say no to plastic straws and cutlery
✅ Bring your own bags to the Hub
✅ Try bar soap and shampoo bars instead of bottled, or visit our Refill Station!
✅ Buy in bulk and choose loose produce
Plastic pollution is one of the biggest environmental challenges of our time—but together, our choices do make a difference.
Join the movement. Inspire others. Go plastic free this July—and maybe beyond 💪🌱
Visit the Plastic Free July website for more resources or to make a pledge.
New Opening Hours
We’ve updated our opening hours to better reflect when we can offer you the best service—thanks to the time and energy of our amazing volunteers! You can now visit us on Wednesdays from 4–8pm (access via our Clarence Street entrance, stairs only, no access to car park), Thursdays from 10am–1pm, and Saturdays from 10am–2pm. As we are an entirely volunteer-run organisation, our opening times depend on the availability of our team. We really appreciate your understanding and support as we continue to grow our community-led Hub.
We’re Looking for Volunteers – Come Join Our Team!
The Charnwood Eco Hub is powered by passionate people, and we’re currently looking for new volunteers to help us grow and thrive. Whether you have a few hours a week or can just lend a hand occasionally, your time and skills can make a real difference. Our general hub shift volunteers help keep the space welcoming and running smoothly—chatting to visitors, restocking the refill station, and supporting day-to-day operations.
We’re also on the lookout for event volunteers to help out at our upcoming Sustainability Fair in September and our Christmas Eco Market in November. From setting up and packing down to helping with activities and welcoming guests, it’s a great way to get involved and be part of something positive.
If you have skills in donor or community engagement, fundraising, social media, or marketing, we’d love your help behind the scenes too! We’re keen to build stronger connections with our supporters, raise awareness of what we do, and reach more people across Charnwood. Whether you’re a people person, a creative thinker, or just someone who wants to pitch in, there’s a role for you here.
If you’re interested in getting involved or would just like to chat about the possibilities, check out our opportunities here, drop us an email or come and speak to us at the Hub — we’d love to hear from you!
Coming up
July
Fruit Routes Fruit Thinning Day
Friday 11th July, 12-2PM
Loughborough University
Loughborough
LE11 3TU
Fabric Journal Roll Workshop
Saturday 12th July, 11AM-1PM
Charnwood Eco Hub
Loughborough
LE11 1DY
Bike Repair Cafe
Saturday 19th July, 11AM-1PM
Charnwood Eco Hub
Loughborough
LE11 1DY
Sashiko Style Slow Sewing Workshop
Saturday 26th July, 11AM-1PM
Charnwood Eco Hub
LE11 1DY
August
PRIDE Blanket Drop In Workshop
11AM-1PM, Saturday 2nd August
Charnwood Eco Hub
Loughborough
LE11 1DY
Pocket Journal Roll Workshop
11AM-1PM, Saturday 9th August
Charnwood Eco Hub
Loughborough
LE11 1DY
Stall at Loughborough PRIDE
Saturday 16th August, 2-6PM
Queen’s Park
Loughborough
LE11 3BJ
Don’t forget to let us know about your upcoming events so that we can feature them!
Where to find us
Opening Hours:
Wednesdays 4-8pm (access via Clarence Street)
Thursdays 10am-1pm (access via main SOFA entrance)
Saturdays 10am-2pm (access via main SOFA entrance)
Address: Clarence St, Loughborough LE11 1DY
Website: charnwoodecohub.org
Email: info@charnwoodecohub.org
Phone: 01509 447075