Lucy Lockwood on using waste marine textiles for good
24 March 2025
Business & Digital Marketing BSc(Hons) student Lucy Lockwood is using her Final Major Project to create positive change in the local community.
The Patched With Care Project, which she founded, upcycles discarded sails and marine textiles into high-quality bags for young people in care. Her custom-made, highly durable bags offer a practical alternative to the bin bags that are sadly still commonplace when young people move to new accommodation.
With every hand-stitched bag, the project not only reduces landfill waste but also restores a sense of dignity to children and young people at one of the most vulnerable moments in their lives.
We caught up with Lucy to find out more about the project – and what she’s learned along the way.
Can you tell us about your project?
According to research conducted by the National Youth Advocacy Service (NYAS), around four in five children and young people in care are forced to move with their belongings in bin bags. As a result, three in five report that their personal belongings are lost or damaged during the move – a heartbreaking reality.
The Patched With Care Project – my final-year social action project – is upcycling old sails, offcuts and marine textiles, which might otherwise end up in landfill, into quality bags for children and young people in care to carry their precious belongings in. No child or young person should have to carry their life in a flimsy bin bag. This project aims to address environmental sustainability while offering a practical and meaningful solution to a common issue. It also seeks to raise awareness, so that more can be done to tackle the problem.
To ensure the bags are of high quality, I’ve been working with a retired shoemaker, Tony, who has a great deal of experience using industrial sewing equipment.
Have you always enjoyed working with textiles?
When I was younger, my gran taught me to sew so I could make clothes for my teddies – a skill I’ve continued to benefit from over the years. However, before starting this project, I had no experience using an industrial sewing machine. Early on, I discovered my domestic machine wasn’t strong enough to sew sails. With Tony’s help, I’ve got to grips with an industrial machine, which has enabled the project to progress.
The longest part of the bag-making process has actually been sorting the materials and trying to use as much of the old sails as possible to minimise waste – 97% of which would usually end up in landfill or be incinerated.
After some trial and error, it now takes about two days to make three bags, so it’s a time-consuming process – perhaps one reason why so many sails are simply thrown away.
How has it been liaising with local sailmaking companies?
I’ve been amazed by the positive response from both the local community and businesses in the marine textile industry. I’ve been in contact with several companies and have received material donations from Rowsell Sails, SKB Sails, Cockwells and Kayo Spruce Ltd, as well as from members of the public.
I had the privilege of visiting one of the Cockwells sites, where I was shown the workshop where they make boat covers, and I was fortunate to speak with their Lead Marine Trimmer. I’ve also been in contact with the Cornwall Education Learning Trust (CELT), who connected me with the Adolescent Team Lead at Together for Families – the Cornwall Council team I’ll be donating the bags to.
Liaising with different organisations and individuals has helped me to further develop my communication and networking skills.
Alongside material donations, the local community has been incredibly generous in supporting my crowdfunder, which has helped buy additional items such as zips and webbing. Any unspent donations will be passed on to Carefree Cornwall, who support young people in and leaving care.
How are you finding the Business & Digital Marketing course?
Whilst I’ve learnt many things on the course, the opportunity to apply that learning through this project has been invaluable – and the most rewarding aspect.
I currently work for The Donkey Sanctuary charity in Sidmouth, Devon, where I’ve secured a permanent role. In the future, I’d like to move into project management.
In the short term, I won’t be continuing the project in the same way, but I’m really keen to ensure it has a lasting legacy. Raising awareness of the challenges faced has already encouraged others to take action – for example, one person has pledged to run yoga classes to raise funds for Carefree Cornwall.
And who knows, I may revisit the project in the future.
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