Case Studies

Rag Tag 'N' Textile, Kyle of Lochalsh

Nestled in the picturesque village of Balmacara, Kyle of Lochalsh is the HQ of Rag Tag n Textile™, an innovative social enterprise that offers employment opportunities to people recovering from mental health problems. This unique company takes discarded clothes and fabrics, and transforms them into desirable soft furnishings, bags and jewellery.

In 2007 the Scottish Community Foundation became the first national funder to support Rag Tag with a significant award of £50,000 to recruit a full time business development manager for two years. Through the Foundation, a further £50,000 was awarded to Rag Tag by the Essentia fund to retain the business manager for another two years.

Vicki Samuels, chairperson for Rag Tag n Textile™ and project coordinator for Training and Guidance (TAG) Skye and Lochalsh, spotted a need for employment opportunities for vulnerable adults living in the area back in 2005. She said: “My job is to work with people who’ve had long breaks from employment through mental health related problems. I help to develop their confidence and skills so they can return to the workforce.

“After about five years of running the TAG programme, I realised a lot of people were becoming trapped in a vicious cycle. The TAG trainees had their confidence rebuilt; they applied for jobs, but when faced rejection after rejection from employers their self-belief would begin to unravel.”

So this was how Rag Tag n Textile™ was born, through the need for meaningful employment for people living with, or recovering from, mental illness.

Rag Tag now employs seven staff and 40 volunteers, 10 of whom have come through the TAG training programme. Its busy happy environment provides people living with mental illness a safe and supportive place to learn, earn and a way to feel part of the wider community again.

Things have really taken off for the social business. It now operates from two sites in the Kyle of Lochalsh area, and last year it scooped a trio of awards. In May it was named the Best Employer in the social enterprise category at the Highland Diversity Awards. It later went on to collect the Best Social Firm award at the Scottish Business Diversity awards and a prestigious SURF award from Scotland’s Independent Regeneration Network.

Looking to the future, Vicki concluded: “Our aim has always been to become self-supporting. We’re generating income from sales of our products, but we’re also looking at other income streams. We’ve created a successful business model, and there’s been interest from other groups who wish to do something similar, so we’re considering licensing the Rag Tag n Textile™ model.

“But, we’re keen to make sure though that our focus remains our staff and volunteers. Our goal throughout has been to welcome anyone that needs our support. This business was developed with people in mind, and it’s the people who make Rag Tag n Textile™ what it is.”

For more information about Rag Tag n Textile, please visit their website - www.ragtagntextile.org.uk