Sewing Skills Lead

We are here to support , promote and develop voluntary and community action in Middlesbrough

Daisy Chain - Neuthread are recruiting for a Sewing Skills Lead.

Location:Daisy Chain (new warehouse location tbc)

Salary:£25,000

Hours:

37.5 hours per week. Fixed term until 31st March 2028.

Part time hours will be considered, reflected with a pro rata salary.

Flexibility around working hours will be considered (including reduced hours during school holidays)

Closing date 14th November at 12 noon with interviews scheduled to take place at Daisy Chain’ s head office in Norton, Stockton-on-Tees on w/c 17th November.

Please note that if enough applications are received, we will close the job early, please ensure you apply as soon as possible.

Daisy Chain has launched Neuthread, a pioneering community sewing and social enterprise project that transforms reharvested fabrics and garments into high-quality, sustainable fashion. Alongside reducing textile waste, we create training, jobs, and meaningful work for autistic and neurodivergent people.

We are now seeking a skilled Sewing Skills Lead to play a central role in the success of our Volunteer Skills Academy and the Mend It, Don ’t Rag It initiative. Working with a wide and diverse group of volunteers from all backgrounds and abilities, this role combines hands‑on sewing and repair work with training and mentoring volunteers, ensuring that skills are developed while garments are repaired and upcycled for resale.

This position does not involve working on the Neuthread couture fashion range, which is delivered by our design and production team. Instead, the focus is firmly on community sewing, garment repair, and sustainability.

By using your own sewing expertise alongside your people skills, you’ll create and deliver engaging training opportunities, guide volunteers in their skill development, and directly contribute to Daisy Chain’s sustainability and inclusion goals.

This role is built around three pillars:

• Deliver practical training sessions in sewing, repair, and upcycling, giving volunteers hands on experience and confidence.
• Supervise and mentor volunteers, providing guidance, feedback, and encouragement.
• Organise skill development workshops and ensure volunteers feel supported, valued, and motivated.

• Carry out sewing, repair, and upcycling work yourself, setting the standard of quality and creativity.
• Create and adapt garments for Daisy Chain's Adapted Clothing Range, enhancing the value of donated textiles.
• Use a variety of machines (industrial, over lockers, and specialist equipment) and fabric types to produce durable, high-quality items.

• Support the “Mend It, Don ’t Rag It” initiative by reducing textile waste and promoting sustainable fashion.
• Work with community organisations, universities, and partners to recruit and involve volunteers.
• Keep accurate volunteer and training records using Daisy Chain ’ s systems.
• Contribute to project targets, service improvements, and a positive workshop culture.

• Comply with Daisy Chain’s Health and Safety policies in all employment practices.
• Work in ways that promote equality, opportunity, participation, and responsibility.
• Maintain the integrity of the Daisy Chain brand in all internal and external communications.
• Contribute proactively to the role and responsibilities, maintaining a positive ethos within the organisation.
• Attend staff meetings and contribute to continuous service improvement and quality initiatives.
• Ensure attendance and engagement with all required training and development activities.
• Any other reasonable tasks as required, in line with the level of the post.
• To ensure that confidential/sensitive…