Out of the Dark is a charitable social enterprise that recycles, restores and revamps salvaged furniture as a means to train, educate and employ young people from disadvantaged backgrounds.
The incredibly inspiring Jade Blades co-founded Out of the Dark with partner Jay and says, “The young people we work with are living in a throwaway society where they get everything instantly. Restoring furniture teaches them that you have to put effort in to get results, and that when you do, you will feel proud. Traditional craft techniques take time, but they don’t take as long as GCSEs, so in a relatively short space of time young people see that they have turned something that was rubbish into something beautiful. They learn that work can be enjoyable and make you want to strive for a better life. The interaction they have with customers, craftspeople and our leaders make them feel happy to be doing something positive as opposed to taking part in activities that are detrimental to themselves and their communities.”
Out of the Dark are exhibiting at May Design Series at London’s ExCeL from Sunday 18th until Tuesday 20th May 2014, so pop in and see them if you can.
Further reading for the especially geeky:
- design for good :: patient dignity
- design for good :: a better a&e
- design for good :: a litre of light
- design for good :: gert
