Casting Innovations is a recycling and craft themed not-for-profit organisation based in Canklow, Rotherham.

The group, supported by SYCF’s Community Grants programme and Green Social Prescribing fund, upcycles pre-loved materials into a range of environmentally friendly products.

Casting Innovations also runs projects and sessions which inspire, educate and engage a range of people from the local community.

These include a hugely popular weekly session with the Rotherham MCVC (Military Community Veterans Centre). Every Thursday, members and associates of the MCVC take part in a mix of media craft and design processes.

Christine Bradley, development manager at MCVC said:

We're a military family of all ages supporting South Yorkshire’s veterans. We run a range of activities including weekly drop-ins, walks and breakfast clubs and the session at Casting Innovations is one of our most popular with veterans.

We work in partnership to offer morning and afternoon sessions on Thursdays. Most attendees are working on individual aluminium projects like keyrings, gifts and memorial creations. They love the practical, hands-on nature of the sessions but also the chance to socialise and share stories.

The Armed Forces Community is very special. Most veterans return to civilian life enriched for their experiences, but unfortunately for some, it can be a difficult journey and they need help.

We’re incredibly grateful to Casting Innovations, and SYCF for the funding it provides, to enable our veterans to feel part of a positive, purposeful community.

 

At Casting Innovations, old aluminium such as tin cans are melted to create bespoke such as keyrings, metal signs and plaques. The site also has a full workshop for metal working, woodworking, pottery and 3D design and printing.

Lee Brooks from Casting Innovations, said:

We’re really proud of our partnership with MCVC and grateful to South Yorkshire’s Community Foundation for supporting us with grant funding which means we can deliver projects like this one to support the local community.

The weekly MCVC sessions are incredibly inspiring, seeing the veterans come together, learn new skills, bond and feel part of a really special community is wonderful.

We work with local people of all ages and backgrounds to improve their social interactions and encourage better mental health through upcycling projects.

We’re a think-outside-the box organisation and will always look for innovative new ideas to bring people together while looking at sustainable activities helping the environment and training volunteers to support others.

 

South Yorkshire’s Community Foundation is passionate about supporting the armed forces and was awarded The Armed Forces Covenant - a promise that those who serve, or have served, are treated fairly in their day-to-day lives and not disadvantaged because of their military history.

Michelle Dickinson, head of philanthropy and programmes for SYCF, said:

Casting Innovations is such a unique organisation doing amazing things in the local community in Rotherham.

It is fantastic to see how the funding from SYCF is supporting Lee and the team to deliver life-enriching projects like the weekly sessions with MCVC. Providing that opportunity for comradeship can help to make a positive difference to the wellbeing of veterans and a place to get together, share stories and learn new skills.”

For more information about Casting Innovations visit https://castinginnovations.com/

For more information about MCVC visit https://mcvc.org.uk/