Dressability

07/01/2026

𝐖𝐞’𝐫𝐞 𝐛𝐚𝐜𝐤 𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐧 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐲 𝐭𝐨 𝐡𝐞𝐥𝐩!

Dressability is now open again and supporting both new and existing clients with clothing alterations and adaptations.

If you or someone you care for needs help with clothing that is easier to put on, more comfortable to wear, or better suited to changing needs, our friendly team is here to help. From small adjustments to more specialist adaptations, we are always happy to talk things through and see what support we can offer.

If you have been meaning to get in touch, or if this is your first time hearing about Dressability, now is a great time to contact us.

📞 01793 512878
📧 mail@dressability.org.uk

Please feel free to share this post with anyone who may benefit from our service.

01/01/2026

𝐇𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐲 𝐍𝐞𝐰 𝐘𝐞𝐚𝐫 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐃𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐚𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲 ✨

As we head into 2026, we’re taking a moment to look back at the year just gone and get excited about what’s ahead.

During 2025, Dressability supported over 300 clients and completed more than 800 clothing alterations, helping people dress with greater comfort, confidence and independence.

We’re really proud of what’s been achieved and are excited to continue supporting individuals and families in the year ahead.

Here’s to a positive and hopeful 2026 💗

30/12/2025

𝐋𝐨𝐨𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐫𝐲 𝐬𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐧𝐞𝐰 𝐢𝐧 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔? 🧵

If you’ve been thinking about trying something new in the year ahead, meeting new people, learning new skills, or using your creativity to help others, volunteering could be the perfect place to start.

We asked one of our wonderful volunteers, Trish, why she gives her time to Dressability each week, and her story perfectly captures the spirit of our volunteer community.

💗 "Sewing and doing crafty things has always been in my blood. So when I heard about Dressability and what they did, I wanted to get involved on a voluntary basis.

I’ve been volunteering now for about 6 years, working on community projects for two hours a week. We’ve done so many different things – from PPE during lockdown (made from our homes), to dressing up clothes for a special needs school, drain bags for the breast cancer unit in Swindon, reusable sanitary pads for young ladies in Guyana, aprons for local charities, radiotherapy gowns for a hospital in Maidstone, tabards for children’s groups, and much more.

Our Thursday group loves working together and solving problems. There’s always laughter, plenty of creativity, and we love sharing what we’ve been making at home – and of course, there’s sometimes cake!

Here’s to many more years sewing and enjoying my Thursday get-togethers with like-minded people (now my friends)." 💗

If you think volunteering with Dressability could be for you, we’d love to hear from you.
Call 01793 512878 or email mail@dressability.org.uk to find out more.

We currently run four volunteer sessions each week and welcome anyone who enjoys sewing, teamwork, and making a difference in people’s lives.

28/12/2025

Free adaptive pattern from The Great British Sewing Bee

Earlier this year, The Great British Sewing Bee included a children’s adaptive dungarees challenge during Kids Week. The design focused on ease of dressing and practical fastenings, closely reflecting the types of adaptations we support through Dressability.

Seeing adaptive clothing featured within a mainstream programme helps raise awareness of the everyday barriers disabled children face, and shows how thoughtful design can improve comfort, confidence and independence. For us, it’s about allowing everyone to wear the clothes they want to, without physical barriers.

The episode can be rewatched on BBC iPlayer (Series 11, Episode 6), and the patterns from the show, including the adaptive dungarees, can be downloaded here:
www.loveproductions.co.uk/sewing-patterns

If sewing isn’t an option for you but you or your child may benefit from clothing adaptations, you’re very welcome to get in touch with us to see how we can help.

📧 mail@dressability.org.uk
📞 01793 512878

A little Christmas gift from us to you: the child’s adaptive dungarees pattern. Link in comments.

23/12/2025

🎄 Merry Christmas from everyone at Dressability 🎄

As the year draws to a close, we would like to wish all our clients, funders, trustees, staff, volunteers and friends of Dressability a very Merry Christmas and a happy, healthy New Year.

Thank you for the continued support, generosity and encouragement you have shown throughout the year. Every alteration, referral, donation, conversation and shared post helps us continue supporting people to dress with comfort, dignity and confidence. We truly could not do what we do without you.

Our office will reopen on Monday 5 January, and we look forward to supporting our community again in the new year.

With heartfelt thanks from all of us at Dressability 💗

18/12/2025

We were delighted to welcome Tia, our new Service Delivery Manager, at our Christmas lunch today.

Tia will be joining the Dressability team in the new year and will play an important role in supporting our day to day operations, working closely with our team and volunteers, and helping ensure our clients continue to receive the practical, thoughtful support we are known for.

If you would like to access our service, Tia will be on hand to help guide you through the process and answer any questions you may have.

To get in touch, please email mail@dressability.org.uk
or call 01793 512878.

Welcome to Dressability, Tia. We are delighted to have you joining us.

16/12/2025

𝐂𝐡𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐦𝐚𝐬 𝐎𝐩𝐞𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐇𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐬

We hope you’re all enjoying the build up to the big day.

As we head towards the festive break, we wanted to share our Christmas opening times.

Dressability will close this Friday 19 December at 3pm and will reopen on Monday 5 January at 9am.

If you’ve been meaning to visit us for new alterations or to collect any completed garments before Christmas, please pop in this week so we can make sure we can help you in time.

If you need to get in touch please call 01793 512878 or email us at mail@dressability.org.uk

12/12/2025

Look closely… 👀
Spotted in Tenerife ☀🌴

Our Dressability tote bag has been caught enjoying a bit of sunshine abroad. Proof that practical, reusable and good cause bags really do travel far and wide.

From Swindon to sunnier shores, we love seeing Dressability out in the world, spreading the word in the most unexpected places.

If you spot us on your travels, let us know, who knows where we’ll turn up next?

If you would like to find out more about Dressability or how we help people with disabilities or limited dexterity, feel free to get in touch at mail@dressability.org.uk
or 01793 512878.

08/12/2025

🧵 𝐒𝐞𝐰𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐒𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲 ♻️

As the cold weather sets in, spare a thought for those who don’t have a warm jacket to reach for.

At Dressability, we’ve been using our sewing skills to help make a difference - both for people and the planet.

For over 10 years, we’ve formed relationships with corporate companies that send us batches of branded jackets, sweatshirts and coats which can no longer be used as part of their business. Rather than pay to have these perfectly good garments destroyed or incinerated, we give them a new life.

Our team carefully remove the logos, match the fabrics, and restore each garment so it can be worn again.

Once complete, the de-branded clothing is passed on to organisations such as Swindon Night Shelter, who help distribute them to people in need across the UK.

It’s a project that brings together care, craftsmanship and sustainability - turning waste into warmth, and fabric into hope.

💚 Read the full story here:
https://www.dressability.org.uk/2025/12/08/the-story-of-a-coat-sewing-for-sustainability/

03/12/2025

𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐃𝐚𝐲 𝐨𝐟 𝐏𝐞𝐨𝐩𝐥𝐞 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐃𝐢𝐬𝐚𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐞𝐬

Today we recognise the strength, creativity and individuality of the people we support. At Dressability we see every day how the right clothing adaptation can bring comfort, confidence and independence.

Small changes make a big difference!

They help people feel more at ease in what they wear which can lead to greater freedom and participation in everyday life.

This day is an important reminder that inclusion starts with understanding real needs and removing the barriers that get in the way. Our dressmakers work closely with clients of all ages to solve practical challenges with care and skill. From adapted fastenings to redesigned garments each piece is tailored to support dignity and personal choice.

We are proud to stand with our client's families, volunteers and community partners who share our belief that everyone deserves clothing that works for them.

If you would like to learn more about our service or need help with an adaptation, please get in touch via 01793 512878 or info@dressability.org.uk

01/12/2025

𝐖𝐞 𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞 𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐞𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐦𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐚𝐠𝐞𝐬 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬! ❤

There is nothing quite like opening a handwritten card from people that we've helped. Notes filled with kindness, gratitude and personal touches remind our team why they do what they do.

Alice and her family sent us this beautiful card after we adapted her now, magical coat. Their message meant the world to us and brought plenty of smiles around the workshop.

Every card, message and email we receive encourages our dressmakers and shows the real impact that clothing adaptations can have on confidence, comfort and independence.

If you or someone you care for has a disability or limited dexterity and needs clothing adapted for comfort or ease, our team would be very happy to help. You can reach us on 01793 512878 or email us at mail@dressability.org.uk

28/11/2025

𝐀𝐭 𝐃𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐚𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲, 𝐰𝐞’𝐫𝐞 𝐬𝐨 𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐟𝐮𝐥 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐬𝐮𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭. 💗

If you have any fabric or haberdashery that you no longer need, we’d love to put it to good use!

Your donated materials help us adapt and create garments for individuals with disabilities and long-term health conditions – helping them feel comfortable, confident and independent every day.

If you’d like to donate items, we’d be delighted to hear from you:
📞 01793 512878
📧 mail@dressability.org.uk

If you don’t have materials to give but would still like to make a difference, you can support us with a financial donation via our website: www.dressability.org.uk/donate

Thank you for helping us make clothing accessible for everyone. ❤️