A 73 year old former tailor has realised a dream to create clothes for children in deprived areas, thanks to the donation of sewing equipment from a designer in Sweden.

Pushpa Vadher lives at Carey Lodge in Wing and applied to the organisation’s Wishes and Dreams campaign to rekindle her love of sewing, while helping vulnerable children across the world.

The Trust’s 25th anniversary Wishes and Dreams campaign has been set up to help 25 people across its services to enable their dreams to become a reality and recognises the importance of celebrating each person’s unique qualities.

An experienced seamstress, Pushpa was taught to sew by her mother at the age of nine and was making school uniforms at 11. While living in Uganda she worked for a tailor making beautiful, bespoke wedding dresses and sewing intricate gold and silver thread on the borders of saris. After returning from overseas, Pushpa worked in a factory in Bucks using industrial overlockers to make silk blouses.

Pushpa has lived at Carey Lodge for four years and really wanted some more sophisticated sewing equipment, fabrics and patterns to be able to produce children’s clothes to send to the British Red Cross.

Designer, Kate Williams, the daughter of Tudor Williams, property manager at the Trust, heard about Pushpa’s aspirations and made a flying visit from Stockholm while visiting her family in the UK, bringing her overlocker for Pushpa to use. Tudor and his wife also joined them, bringing patterns and materials and Kate helped to set the overlocker up.

Commenting on this special moment, Pushpa said:

“I was really touched by Kate’s generosity and how everyone had worked together to help to fulfil my dream. Sewing brings me such joy and to be able to make clothes for children will be such a rewarding thing to do.”

Kate added:

“I design childrenswear for a living and couldn’t imagine not having the tools to do that anymore. It’s great that the sewing machine will allow Pushpa to continue working towards her dreams. I wish her lots of luck.”

Sue Faulkner, leisure and lifestyle manager at The Fremantle Trust, commented:

“It was wonderful to see Pushpa’s expression when she realised that her dream was becoming a reality. Everyone genuinely feels like part of the family here, so for Tudor’s daughter to go out of her way to bring Pushpa her sewing equipment was a very special moment and I’m sure it’s a memory Pushpa will treasure.”