Sewing Skills Lead

Middlesbrough Voluntary Development Agency; Tees Valley; On-site; GBP 22,500 - 27,500; Full time

Job summary

Middlesbrough Voluntary Development Agency is seeking a Sewing Skills Lead to join their Neuthread initiative. The role involves leading community sewing projects, training and mentoring diverse volunteers while promoting sustainable fashion. Candidates should possess strong sewing skills, relevant qualifications in training, and experience in diverse environments. Working hours are flexible, and the position is fixed term until March 2028. Join a team committed to creating meaningful work and reducing textile waste.

Qualifications

• Proven sewing skills with the ability to teach and support others.
• Experience working with diverse people including those with additional needs.
• Experience delivering structured training sessions.

Responsibilities

• Deliver practical training sessions in sewing and repair.
• Supervise and mentor volunteers providing guidance and feedback.
• Organize skill development workshops.

Skills

Sewing skills

Experience with diverse groups

Training and mentorship

Organizational skills

Education

Relevant qualifications in training and development

Formal sewing or textiles qualification

Tools

Industrial sewing machines

Overlockers

Job description

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

Sewing Skills Lead

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.

JOB SUMMARY

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.

KEY TASKS

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.

Hands‑On Sewing & Repair

• 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, overlockers, and specialist equipment) and fabric types to produce durable, high-quality items.

Community & Sustainability Goals

• 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.

Additional Tasks

• 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 information is handled in an appropriate manner and in line with GDPR.
• Work in a way that contributes to the continuous improvement of the Charity’s services and embraces the organisations quality initiatives.

PERSON SPECIFICATION

Experience

• Proven sewing skills with the ability to teach and support others – E (A, I, T)
• Experience of working with a wide and diverse range of people, including those with additional needs – E (A, I)
• Experience of creating or delivering structured training sessions, workshops, or mentoring programmes – E (A, I)
• Experience of working in a non-profit, charitable, or community-focused organisation – D (A)
• Experience of developing adapted or upcycled garments, or involvement in sustainable fashion initiatives – D (A, I)

Qualifications

• Relevant qualifications in training and development, volunteer management, or a related field – E (A)
• A formal sewing or textiles qualification (e.g. City & Guilds, NVQ, BTEC, or equivalent) – D (A)
• Evidence of continuing professional development (CPD) in areas such as teaching, training, or mentoring – D (A)

Knowledge & Skills

• Strong sewing skills, with the ability to teach, guide, and support others – E (A, I, T)
• Ability to use a variety of sewing machines, including industrial machines, overlockers, and other specialist equipment – E (A, I, T)
• Experience of working with different fabric types and sewing techniques, ensuring quality and durability – E (A, I, T)
• Ability to design, develop, and deliver training programmes or workshops – E (A, I)
• Ability to motivate and engage a wide and diverse range of volunteers – E (A, I)
• Strong organisational and planning skills, with the ability to manage multiple tasks and priorities – E (A, I)

Other

• Excellent written and verbal communications skills - E&A&I
• Confident IT literacy, including use of Microsoft Office and digital communication tools – E (A)
• Willingness to be flexible about the work undertaken -E&I
• Understanding of and commitment to the aims, ethos and philosophy of Daisy Chain-E&T
• Ability and willingness to work during the evening and weekends, if needed. -E&A&I
• Own driving licence and car and able to travel to appointments as needed-D&A

Daisy Chain is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of everyone in our care and therefore this post is subject to an enhanced DBS check. Any offer of employment is subject to this DBS check and satisfactory references.