Stitching Communities Together

We’re thrilled to share a heart-warming update from one of our most creative collaborations: the Urban Artisan aprons, lovingly made by participants of the New Pioneers Project Sewing Lab, have found their new home with the Friends of Todmorden Station (F.O.T.S.)!

The denim aprons, hand-stitched by local women through the Urban Artisan initiative, were created as part of a community sewing programme focused on upskilling, confidence-building, and sustainable design. Each apron was crafted with care, using reclaimed materials and detailed with thoughtful touches that reflect both craftsmanship and community pride.

Now, they’ve become part of the daily wear for the wonderful volunteers at Todmorden Station—people who dedicate their time to maintaining the station’s charm, planting flowerbeds, and making it a more welcoming space for passengers.

The feedback from the volunteers has been overwhelmingly positive: they not only appreciated the quality and practicality of the aprons but were genuinely touched by the thought and effort behind them.

This partnership is a perfect example of how community rail projects can weave together creativity, sustainability, and people power—bringing different groups together with shared purpose and pride.

Thank you to all the Sewing Lab participants, the New Pioneers Project team, and of course, to our dedicated station adopters at F.O.T.S. for continuing to show what can happen when communities collaborate!