New shop to sell products made by service users

A new shop showcasing the talents of adults with learning disabilities is set to open in Oswestry in February.

The shop, called Corner Patch, will open at 10am on 12 February and will sell handmade products, such as textiles, handbags and bespoke iron wrought gifts, made by people who use Shropshire Council’s day care services.

Corner Patch will open from Tuesday to Saturday from 10am to 3pm.

The council has acquired the shop unit at the corner of Bailey Head and Albion Hill for users of Patchworks to get experience dealing with the public in a retail setting. Patchworks is a council-run service which provides a safe environment for adults with learning disabilities to learn new skills and create textile products.

Councillor Keith Barrow, Leader of the Council and Local Member for Oswestry South said, “The Corner Patch shop will be hugely beneficial for the users of our day care services, and will hopefully be a boost to Oswestry town centre as well. I wish Corner Patch every success for the future.”

Councillor Simon Jones, Shropshire Council Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care services, said: “This is great news for service users. It is very important to have an outlet for the excellent pieces of work they create, and this shop will provide that. The shop will sell a wide range of gifts, as well as individual bespoke items made to your own designs, so I hope as many people as possible take a look to see what’s on offer.”

Tanya Miles, Locality Team manager for North Shropshire Learning disability team at Shropshire Council, added: “The idea for the shop came from the service users themselves, who said they wanted a central base to sell their products. They have actively been involved in setting the shop up. It really has been a wonderful project for them and we hope it will just get better once the shop gets established.”

Patchworks was previously based at an industrial estate in Maesbury Road, Oswestry, but will move into the new premises on the corner of Bailey Head and Albion Hill.

The Corner Patch shop will also sell products made by people attending day care services at Maesbury Metals, in Oswestry, and Greenacres Farm in Baschurch, North Shropshire.

Mary Beth who attends Patchworks in Oswestry, expressed how excited she was with the new shop saying, “I’m quite looking forward to the opening; I enjoy selling to the customers”.

There will also be a free tasting on the day of homemade pickles and jams and a free gift for every customer.

For more information about Corner Patch shop and Patchworks call 01691 671 923 or email cornerpatch@shropshire.gov.uk.

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