The Sutton Group
We are a group of volunteers with different backgrounds including engineering . Between us we can dismantle and refurbish just about any tool that comes our way.
If you are interested in joining us as a volunteer, please get in touch. email
On the haberdashery side, we have a group of volunteers who sort through all donations and either make up haberdashery kits, or send sorted items to our HQ.
We enjoy sorting through new arrivals of tools and finding gems- tools we’ve never seen before, leaving us with a guessing game as to what it was used for.
Tools
We send the tools to headquarters where they packed as Tool Kits kits,
ready for shipping to Africa.
Sewing Machines and Haberdashery
We are one of the few local groups refurbishing sewing machines. Our bread and butter are Singer hand machines, all with round bobbins. These all go to Africa.
Other hand machines, if old and in very good condition, go to HQ for resale to collectors.
Selected electric machines go to Africa, but only ones known to be very reliable and easily maintained.
Most of the electric machines we receive we refurbish and sell.
Our volunteers make up start-up kits of assorted haberdashery items, ensuring tailors have the initial fabric and thread that they will require.
Events
We attend a number of shows each year, both to promote our activities and to raise funds by selling surplus tools.
Currently these are Ashtead Village Day, Carlshalton Eco Fair, Wallington Farmers’ Markets and The Church of the Good Shepherd Christmas Fair, Carlshalton.
Sales
Within our volunteers we have talented specialists who can :-
Sometimes we are given bigger items which are not wanted for Africa, so we sell them locally, or via Ebay or Gumtree.
Specialists
- Refurbish sewing machines
- Re-handle chisels, hammers and mallets
- Rebuild winding handles for sewing machines
(about the only part that does eventually wear out) - Sharpen saws
- rebuild braces, vices, sash clamps
- Test, repair and PAT test electrical equipment
Sutton Group 