The Lend and Mend pilot programme stands as a beacon of sustainable innovation in Scotland’s public libraries. Funded by the John Lewis £1million Circular Future Fund and guided by the Scottish Library and Information Council, the initiative launched hubs in nine libraries, empowering communities to mend, reuse and share resources.
Over the course of the pilot, Lend and Mend fostered creativity, strengthened community ties, and championed sustainable living, aligning seamlessly with Forward: Scotland’s Public Libraries Strategy 2021-2025.
Sustainable Innovation
The Lend and Mend in Libraries initiative emerged from research carried out as part of the development of Forward: Scotland’s Library Strategy 2021-2025.
The Strategy itself is rooted in the Sustainable Development Goals and highlights the crucial role libraries paly in championing sustainability.
The Circular Future Fund was created through investment from the John Lewis Partnership, using funds generated by the 10p plastic bag charge.
This partnership explored the potential for Scotland’s libraries to become community hubs which support everyone to consume more responsibly, share skills, reduce items going to landfill, and share infrequently used household items.
Executive Summary
The Lend and Mend Executive Summary gives details of the key highlights and outcomes of the collaborative project. It looks at the lessons learned during the pilot programme and how the project could be expanded in the future.
Girvan Library
Orkney Library
Gorebridge Library
Girvan Library’s Lend and Mend Hub became a
hive of activity as local volunteers collaborated
to create miles of colourful, reusable bunting
to adorn the town.
Using donated materials and the Hub’s sewing machines, participants met weekly to bring this vision to life, creating enough bunting to ‘cover the whole town’,
with surplus sold for charity.
The project was a resounding success, fostering community spirit and showcasing the library as a vibrant
communal space.
Orkney Library’s Lend and Mend Hub has sparked a surge in demand for sewing classes, empowering individuals to build confidence and independence with sewing machines.
It’s also fostering community-led sustainability initiatives, like the set up of a Repair Café — a volunteer-driven pop-up encouraging the local community keep the things they own in use for longer – building community resilience through a shared love of repair.
At Gorebridge Library, a young boy wanted to make his assistance dog’s collar and leash more distinctive and personalised. Inspired by the facilities at the Lend and Mend Hub, he decided to embroider them himself – a task he had never attempted before.
With guidance from the Hub’s team and access to the machines, over several sessions, he mastered the intricacies of the embroidery process in a welcoming and nurturing environment where he could work at his own
pace, receiving encouragement from staff and other users.
South West Library
South West Library’s Lend and Mend ‘Chatty
Café offers more than just conversation —
it provides a safe, inclusive space where
people can connect, share stories and build
friendships. Participants engage in hobbies
like crocheting, knitting and cross-stitching,
with some even donating their work to charity.
The group fosters a caring environment,
with members checking in on each other’s
wellbeing. By attending, individuals gain new
skills, grow their self-confidence and feel
more connected to their community, all while
benefiting from the supportive atmosphere
of the library.
One participant, Natalia, an immigrant from
Ukraine, found her community in the Lend
and Mend Hub. She is currently in the process
of starting her own business in Inverclyde
and credits the support she received and the
community she found in the library and Lend
and Mend Hub for giving her the confidence to
do so, despite feeling nervous about her level
of spoken English.
AK Bell Library
The Lend and Mend Hub at AK Bell Library in Perth has become a vibrant hub for community creativity and sustainable living. The Sew Together sessions, run by skilled volunteers offering personalised 1:1 guidance, have grown from bi-weekly meetings to a weekly offering, fostering a strong community of returning participants with 46 interactions recorded to date.
One participant, Antonina, a Ukrainian volunteer, launched her own sewing group for fellow displaced women, highlighting the Hub’s role in fostering empowerment and connection.
Meanwhile, the introduction of Mend Together sessions has further expanded the Hub’s reach, encouraging attendees to embrace the value of repair over discard through hand and visible mending techniques.
Aberdeen Central Library
Aberdeen Central Library’s flourishing Lend and Mend Hub has welcomed nearly 400 attendees since opening, with 1860 hours of recorded use in its first 18
months.
Beginner and intermediate sewing and embroidery classes, provided by the library’s skilled staff, mean that the hub is inclusive to all abilities, and has encouraged both new and old library users to build their confidence
on the free to use sewing machines, while fostering connections across the community.
One participant explained, “It has been a long time since I have visited my local library, but a friend told me about the space here which led me to come in and start using the machines.
I need to make a habit of this as it’s a great space that needs to be fully utilised.” The opportunities for creativity and connection have helped the library to showcase a wide range of perspectives.
The hub’s success helped ACL to organise an event in
collaboration with Black and Scot, showcasing the work of the next generation of Scottish Black fashion designers.
The designers’ collections, which draw inspiration from African culture, were displayed in the Hub through the
month following the event, providing a source of inspiration for other participants.
Gorebridge Library
Wester Hailes
Kilbirnie Library
For one wheelchair user, the Lend and Mend Hub at Gorebridge has become a cherished space to pursue her passion for sewing.
Although she owns a sewing machine and is highly experienced, her visits to the Hub are about more than just practicality – it offers a uniquely accessible and inclusive environment that meets her physical and creative needs.
The Hub’s large cutting table, conveniently placed equipment, and spacious layout eliminate many of the challenges she faces at home, such as cutting fabric on the floor – a common practice for many but impossible
for her. These accommodations make the Hub a place where she can work comfortably and efficiently.
When the Wester Hailes Library temporarily closed for
refurbishment, the Lend and Mend team seized the opportunity to extend their impact citywide through a six-week tour of Edinburgh’s libraries.
The tour included beginner classes for all ages and drop-in sessions, all met with overwhelming demand and fully booked slots. Participants transformed damaged fast-fashion items into bespoke creations and gained valuable sewing skills, with many citing newfound confidence and a deeper appreciation for craftsmanship.
The tour expanded the Lend and Mend community, reaching new audiences while championing creativity, sustainability, and empowerment.
The Sewing Group at the Lend and Mend Hub
in Kilbirnie Library meet weekly, with members
learning hand sewing skills, pattern reading,
and how to use the sewing, embroidery, and
overlocker machines.
As a result, the group has made over 70 items, repaired over 40 items, and have all said they are more likely to try and repair an item before sending it to landfill.
When asked what difference the Lend and Mend Hub has made to them, the group said: “The Lend and Mend Hub is a warm and inviting place and a great asset to the community. I have met new people, made new friends, and enjoyed trying out new skills with newfound confidence. It’s opened up a new experience for me- you are never too old to learn.”
Midlothian Libraries
Wester Hailes Library
A refugee family, newly settled in Midlothian, has found their local Lend and Mend Hub to be a place of solace and opportunity as they rebuild their lives in Scotland. Cultivating a skill she’d learned in her home country, the mother used donated fabrics from the Hub’s collection
to make head coverings for herself and her daughter – items carrying cultural and personal significance, helping the family maintain a connection to their heritage while adapting to their new environment.
As her confidence grew, so did her creativity. She expanded her projects to include clothing repairs, tote bags, and even decorative items for their home. Each piece she created represented a step toward reclaiming her sense of purpose and agency in an unfamiliar setting.
The Hub also became a social outlet for her, where she exchanged stories and ideas with others in the sewing group.
The Wester Hailes Library Lend and Mend Hub has become a cornerstone of creativity and community connection. Weekly drop-in sessions, originally beginner classes, now attract crafters of all abilities who collaborate on projects, share skills, and forge friendships.
These gatherings bring together a richly diverse group of attendees, including neurodiverse individuals and people with English as a second language. Youth programming has also flourished, with over 40 children learning to sew during summer classes, while year-round workshops spark creativity and confidence. The Hub provides a welcoming space for all ages to gain hands-on skills, build confidence, and explore sustainable practices through these creative opportunities.
