The Ferry Project is inviting young people to submit a design on paper an item of clothing made from tent material.  

Selected designers will then be supplied with the material and asked to make the item for an upcoming fashion show. 

The pieces will then be judged and the winner announced at the event which is to be held next year.  

The task is certainly one that fans of the popular BBC show would expect for a “transformation challenge”, where sewers take a product or clothing and transform it into another item.  

Gary Clifford, who works at The Ferry Project, said: “The idea really came from sorting through the items from our donations hub at The Queen Mary Centre.  

“We joked about some of the clothing being more suitable for a night out in London and realised a fundraising activity could come from this.” 

Clothes donated to The Ferry Project.  (Image: The Ferry Project) As well as the tent challenge, aspiring models are also being invited to participate in the Fashion show, which is due to take place on March 6, 2025.  

In return for sponsorship, they are being given the opportunity to raid the donations hub to create an outfit fit for the catwalk.  

They will then take to the runway in their creation, with prior professional coaching on offer from the LEADA School of Drama.  

Makeup and hair styling will be provided on the night. 

The Ferry Project – which is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year – is also working in partnership with the College of West Anglia on the fundraiser. 

While it is encouraging the community to unleash their creativity for the event, Gary explains there is also an important message to get across. 

The Great British Sewing Bee will air a celebrity special over the festive season on Thursday December 19.  (Image: Neil Sherwood / Love Productions / BBC) He said: “We want to raise awareness of the issue around rural homelessness.  

“Many people think it is only a problem in the cities and big towns. But it isn’t, it’s right here on our doorsteps.  

“I moved to Wisbech in 1999 and have worked here for three yhttps://www.wisbechstandard.co.uk/news/24781227.nhs-cambridgeshire-425-000-flu-covid-vaccines-delivered/ears now. I was completely unaware of the issue and how much help people needed.  

“I was explaining the situation to some college students last week.  

“I told them some find themselves homeless literally overnight, they can be any age and never would’ve expected it.  

“All it can take is one bad event in your life, or one bad decision, that’s the reality of it, and it’s heartbreaking and we do what we can to help.” 

Clothes donated to The Ferry Project.  (Image: The Ferry Project) The Ferry Project provides emergency accommodation and long-term help for homeless and vulnerable people in the Fens.  

It was founded in 1998 by members of Wisbech Churches Together and the hostel on South Brink has around 30 spaces.  

Tickets for the fashion show will be £7.50 for the front row, £5 elsewhere in the audience. It will be held at the Queen Mary Centre, in Wisbech, from 6:30pm. Further details will be released in due course.    

Proposed designs for the tent material transformation challenge closes on December 20, 2024.  Further information is also available at the JustGiving page, with early donations already being accepted.   

Also contact Gary at gary.clifford@ferryproject.org.uk or Matt McChlery  matt.mcchlery@ferryproject.org.uk .  

• A Christmas special of The Great British Sewing Bee are being aired on Thursday 19 December at 9pm on BBC ONE and BBC iPlayer.