A VALUABLE community resource in Tavistock which has provided recreation and education to families and hundreds of people with learning disabilities over the last decade could be lost to the town, if a site cannot be found to accommodate it.

Next Thursday — February 27 — will see the Scrapstore at the Molly Owen Centre close to the public, because the centre is moving to a new location — but if it is up to the volunteer steering committee, this closure will only be temporary!

The enthusiastic team wants to continue and renew the scrapstore and make it a community not-for-profit business, because it believes the potential is there for it to thrive.

The store collects all sorts of scrap from old costume jewellery to cellophane, ribbon, tiles and fabric and sells them on, to be re-used for craft activities, wrapping or to be made into something new.

As well as a strong recycling ethos, the scrapstore has brought people together to enjoy community workshops, something which the steering group would love to do more of.

The committee believes that there is masses of scrap in the business community which could be utilised, and would like to find a space in the town where it can expand its storage facilities.

Ursula Mann, Scrapstore chairperson, said: 'A lot of people have never heard of the scrapstore and we want to be much more part of the community.

'If someone has space within their building that we could use, or a building that is not in use at the moment, we want to hear from them. At the moment we open two days a week but we would like to increase that and run more workshops.'

Tavistock Scrapstore was started at the Molly Owen Centre for people with learning disabilities, to provide a resource that could help clients develop social and work skills.

Ursula added: 'Because of the success of the programme, many of the original clients have integrated further in the community and those remaining have more complex needs that mean they cannot undertake the running of the scrapstore.

'In addition the Molly Owen Centre will be moving to another location soon and the space will no longer be available.

'Our aim is to continue with and expand the scrapstore to involve a wider community of both users and businesses.

'We have plenty of willing volunteers and by going it alone we will be eligible for grant funding.'

County councillor Debo Sellis said she had emailed the councils, Tavistock College, library, police and people concerned with youth services to see if there was a site available.

'There is significant benefit associated with this scrap — inspiring creation from waste,' she said.

'People, including those with special needs, use these materials for occupational therapy.'

Anyone who can help the scrapstore should contact Ursula on 07944 257860, email [email protected]">[email protected] or visit the facebook page http://www.facebook.com">www.facebook.com /tavyscrapstore