Secret Projects is invited to share suggestions for an India Free Trade Arrangement with the UK.

Secret Projects is invited to share suggestions for an India Free Trade Arrangement with the UK.

 19th Aug 2021 |  Blog |  Margaret Ring


In May this year, Boris Johnson the Prime Minister of the UK made the announcement that the government are intending to work with India towards setting up a brand-new Free Trade Arrangement (FTA). As a business that has worked in India for almost a decade, we were pleased to be invited to share our experience and suggestions to assist the government in their preparations and have since submitted our ideas and comments.

An FTA between the UK and India would, the government state provide an excellent opportunity to deepen the UK's trade and investment links. Secret Projects would welcome an FTA, if it includes legal protection for the Indian workforce that shields workers from exploitation by companies, as well as measures that will protect the environment. We believe such an agreement, that includes these crucial elements will have a positive impact on our business and our mission to empower women, which lies at the heart of all we do.

We hope that an FTA would mean among other important areas, that the process for shipping retail goods from India to the UK would be simplified, coupled with a reduction in the overall cost of these shipments. This would mean that Secret Projects could transport merchandise made by our Maker Groups in a more competitive way, increasing our Customer base in the UK and that in turn that will allow us to reach more women in India, empowering each one economically.

We will share updates and further details of these negotiations over the coming months and will be taking any opportunity we are given to promote the empowerment of women in India and the value that earning an income brings not just to the women, their families, and children but their wider community as well.

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Our first destash!

Our first destash!

What to do on a rainy Sunday? Hold our very first destash! You may be asking what a destash is?  In short, it's a call out to people to go through old . . . sewing supplies and fabric etc. and donate it to a good cause. With that good cause being Secret Projects! We set up in the Pulborough Village Hall (which is close to where our Business Unit is), and, through various advertising methods, the word had spread and we were delighted to welcome scores of people who came along with their very gratefully received donations. Donations weren't just brought in on the day, we had parcels sent to us and others dropped supplies round to our CEO's house in Pulborough ahead of the official destash day. In total we collected 325 kilos of delici0us pre-loved sewing supplies. Much of the fabric donated has been sorted and will be made up into our ever popular and best selling scrap packs available through our eBay and Etsy Stores. In fact, we now have over 30 different scrap packs to purchase and more will be added, so do keep visiting our stores. We are still taking donations and if you do have any fabric or pre-loved sewing supplies, please do get in touch via fritha@secretprojects.org And of course the most enormous thank you everyone who donated to, and also helped us run our very first destash! More to come! Let's hear it for destashing!   Image: offering a cup of tea to all who came along to the destash was one way of us saying a big thank you.
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We would LOVE you to donate any unwanted sewing supplies to us!

We would LOVE you to donate any unwanted sewing supplies to us!

We can make such good use of your pre-loved sewing supplies We have added various items of pre-loved sewing supplies to our online stores, including . . . scrap fabrics and buttons for the past few years and it has developed into a small but very good source of income for our Community Benefit Society. The pre-loved sewing supplies market is only getting stronger and is something we are keen to develop and grow and are therefore putting out an 'ask' to our customers and supporters (and of course, anyone else who reads this!) for your old sewing items. We would LOVE them! Ideas for sewing supplies donations! From scrap fabric, to buttons, to pins, to needles, to embroidery equipment, we would adore to talk to you about what you have. Sewing items can often have sentimental value - in fact, our Comms Manager, Margaret was just telling us about a pin cushion she has of her mother's that she could only give away to someone who would really appreciate, and make good use of. Maybe this has resonated with you. So, if you do have sewing supplies you would like to donate, please email Fritha Vincent Mason at: fritha@secretprojects.org. We would just LOVE your pre-loved sewing supplies!  
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The 2024 AGM of SPCBS will take place on 24th January 1-2pm UK time

The 2024 AGM of SPCBS will take place on 24th January 1-2pm UK time

The 2024 Annual General Meeting of Secret Projects Community Benefit Society We are delighted to announce that 2024 The Annual General Meeting of . . . Secret Projects Community Benefit Society will take place on January 24th at 1-2pm UK time. All Shareholders are warmly invited and notification and the agenda plus financial information have been sent out. Please do check inboxes and junk folders and if not received, please email: invest@secreprojects.org. We very much look forward to seeing our Shareholders and providing an update on our progress over the last year.    
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