06/08/2026
Ever wondered what happens when a historic mill gets saved from being turned into yet more expensive flats? SCRAP Leeds Centre of Creative, Reuse Play and Learning in Sunny Bank Mills is a community reuse hub. As part of our efforts to understand and connect with more wonderful social enterprises in the region, we recently took a trip over to Farsley to meet Louise Lucas for a tour.
Louise first established SCRAP back in 2006 in a small unit on Kirkstall Road. Over time, she has createda self-sustaining, not-for-profit social enterprise that serves the local community with colour and creativity. They moved into their new home in Farsley in Sunny Bank Mills in 2014.
She founded the space to create a joyful space full of eclectic materials that were originally heading straight for landfill, that are now destined for a second, more creative existence.
They divert over a hundred tonnes of business waste per year.
Rolls on rolls of gorgeous fabrics...even their packaging materials are rescued from heading to the bin. Nothing gets wasted here.
All of those lanyards and tote bags that are given out for free at corporate and events? Old branded merch is repurposed for the community to make beautiful new things.
Saved from landfill and turned into bargain craft supplies. Pure genius.Saved from landfill and turned into bargain craft supplies. Pure genius.
Their workshop space is goals. Community sewing days and mending circles, plant swaps... SCRAP are leading the way and setting the bar high. We’re definitely taking notes for our own space!
Proof that one person’s scraps can be art: a life-sized highland cow built entirely from rescued bits and bobs.
They also have reSTORE. It’s their eco-friendly refill station helping the community cut down on single-use plastics.
We popped over last week to grab supplies for our Analogue Monday crafting tables at Spark.
Farsley is having a moment right now, and rightly so. It’s really not far from York at all (about 40 minutes by train), and is packed with murals, nice people and has a booming independent businesses scene.
Case in point: Silver’s Bakehouse. A proper neighbourhood bakery that has recently opened and se
