Thursday, 18th September 2014
Ground-breaking North Wales clothing export centre opened
The first social enterprise led clothing export centre in Wales was officially opened by First Minister Carwyn Jones today [Thursday, 18 September].
Draig Tex, based in Mochdre, has been developed by a consortium of three North Wales social enterprises in order to keep the value of the unwanted clothes they collect in Wales, so it can fund the work they do in the community
Crest Co-operative, Seren Ffestiniog and Antur Waunfawr all collect unwanted clothing to sell in their community shops. Clothing which cannot be resold is exported to Pakistan, East Africa and Eastern Europe where it is reused.
Before Draig Tex was established the three enterprises used companies outside Wales to export and reuse clothing that could not be resold. Now the three work together to export the textiles themselves, keeping the value of all the textiles collected in Wales.
Draig Tex is currently working with third sector organisations across Wales to export textiles and has already built strong relationships with charities, who are keen to use the services of a Welsh third sector export centre.
The venture has created thirteen jobs so far including textile sorters, a driver and a textile baler. It also provides volunteering and job training opportunities for people who have been out of the labour market for a long time.
First Minister Carwyn Jones: “Draig Tex is a win win scheme. It helps to reduce waste to landfill, supports those living in poverty, and gains income for each social enterprise ensuring any profit goes back into the community. It’s a credit to the three enterprises involved that they saw the opportunity to ensure all the value of the product they collect went back to their communities.
“It’s also good to see how this has created jobs locally and helped prepare people to get back into the job market.”
Sharon Jones, Chief Executive of Crest Co-operative, who are responsible for the day-to-day running of Draig Tex, said: “We are delighted that the First Minister of Wales, Carwyn Jones AM has supported Draig Tex by officially opening our unique enterprise.
“It’s been 5 months since we opened the doors of Draig Tex and I am incredibly proud of what the team have achieved since then. We have created 13 new jobs locally and as at the end of August we have collected 280 tonnes of textiles. We are working with 11 charities and social enterprises across Wales, some of whom have multiple shops across our regions.
“Draig Tex’s vision is a simple one, we want to make Wales a better place to live. We intend to do this by keeping the vast wealth that can be generated from exporting textiles within Wales and distributing that wealth to the third sector organisations and charities who collect textiles to help meet their aims for their own charities and local communities. “
Draig Tex has received funding from Cyfenter, the Welsh Government’s North Wales Coast Regeneration Area and RWE Rhyl Flats offshore wind farm grant scheme.
Visit the Draig Tex website at www.draigtex.com
(PICTURES BY THE DAILY POST)
Dydd Iau 18 Medi 2014
Canolfan allforio dillad arloesol yn agor yn Ne Cymru
Cafodd y ganolfan allforio dillad gyntaf yng Nghymru o dan arweiniad menter gymdeithasol ei hagor yn swyddogol gan y Prif Weinidog Carwyn Jones heddiw [dydd Iau 18 Gorffennaf].
Mae Draig Tex, cwmni yn Mochdre, wedi ei ddatblygu gan gonsortiwm o dri o fentrau cymdeithasol y Gogledd er mwyn cadw gwerth y dillad di-angen y maent yn eu casglu yng Nghymru, fel y gall ariannu y gwaith y maent yn ei wneud yn y gymuned.
Mae Crest Co-operative, Seren Ffestiniog ac Antur Waunfawr ill tri yn casglu dillad di-angen i’w gwerthu yn eu siopau cymunedol. Mae’r dillad nad oes modd eu hail-werthu yn cael eu hallforio i Pacistan, Dwyrain Affrica a Dwyrain Ewrop ble y cânt eu hail-ddefnyddio.
Cyn sefydlu Draig Tex roedd y dair fenter yn defnyddio cwmnïau o’r tu allan i Gymru i allforio ac ail-ddefnyddio dillad nad oedd modd eu hail-werthu. Bellach mae’r tri yn cydweithio i allforio y tecstiliau eu hunain, gan gadw gwerth yr holl decstiliau sy’n cael eu casglu yng Nghymru.
Mae Draig Tex yn gweithio ar hyn o bryd gyda sefydliadau’r trydydd sector ledled Cymru i allforio tecstiliau ac mae eisoes wedi magu perthynas gref gydag elusennau, sydd yr un mor awyddus i ddefnyddio gwasanaeth canolfan allforio y trydydd sector yng Nghymru.
Mae’r fenter wedi creu tair-ar-ddeg o swyddi hyd yn hyn gan gynnwys didolwyr tecstiliau, gyrrwr a beliwr tecstiliau. Mae hefyd yn rhoi cyfleoedd i wirfoddoli a hyfforddiant swydd i bobl sydd wedi bod allan o’r farchnad lafur am amser maith.
Meddai Carwyn Jones y Prif Weinidog: “Mae Draig Tex yn gynllun sy’n llwyddo ym mhob ffordd. Mae’n helpu i leihau gwastraff safleoedd tirlenwi, yn cefnogi’r rhai sy’n byw mewn tlodi, ac yn sicrhau incwm ar gyfer pob menter gymdeithasol gan sicrhau bod unrhyw elw yn mynd yn ôl i’r gymuned. Mae’n glod i’r dair fenter sy’n cymeryd rhan eu bod wedi gweld y cyfle i sicrhau bod holl werth y cynnyrch y maent yn ei gasglu yn mynd yn ôl i’w cymunedau.
“Mae’n dda hefyd gweld sut y mae hyn wedi creu swyddi yn lleol ac wedi helpu pobl i fynd yn ôl i’r farchnad swyddi.”
Meddai Sharon Jones, Prif Weithredwr Crest Co-operative, sy’n gyfrifol am redeg Draig Tex o ddydd i ddydd: “Rydym yn falch iawn bod Prif Weinidog Cymru, Carwyn Jones AC wedi cefnogi Draig Tex trwy agor ein menter unigryw yn swyddogol.
“Mae’n 5 mis ers inni agor drysau Draig Tex ac rwy’n hynod falch o’r hyn y mae’r tîm wedi’i gyflawni ers hynny. Rydym wedi creu 13 o swyddi newydd yn lleol ac ar ddiwedd mis Awst byddwn wedi casglu 280 tunnell o decstiliau. Rydym yn gweithio gydag 11 o elusennau a mentrau cymdeithasol ledled Cymru, ac mae gan rai ohonynt nifer o siopau ledled y wlad.”
“Mae gweledigaeth Draig Tex yn un syml, ac rydym am i Gymru fod yn lle gwell i fyw ynddi. Rydym yn bwriadu gwneud hyn drwy gadw’r cyfoeth enfawr y gellir ei greu o allforio tecstiliau o fewn Cymru, a dosbarthu’r cyfoeth hwnnw i sefydliadau ac elusennau’r trydydd sector sy’n casglu tecstiliau, i helpu i gyflawni eu hamcanion ar gyfer eu helusennau a’u cymunedau lleol eu hunain. “
Mae Draig Tex wedi derbyn cyllid gan Cyfenter, Ardal Adfywio Arfordir Gogledd Cymru Llywodraeth Cymru a RWE, cynllun grant fferm wynt ar y môr ‘Rhyl Flats’.
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