Hastings girl, 13, makes survival blankets from crisp packets

Savana Isles, aged 13, and a student at St Richard’s Catholic College in Bexhill, made seven blankets using more than 50 crisp packets for each one.

She made them over the course of January to March for the Crisp Packet Project, a Community Interest Company (CIC), based in St Paul’s Road, which creates survival blankets and sleeping bag covers out of plastic waste.

The student, who is in Year 9 at St Richard’s Catholic College, said: “As part of my Duke of Edinburgh (DofE) Bronze Award I was required to complete a three-month voluntary section.

“I wanted to do something that was worthwhile and interesting and that would make a difference locally. I found the Crisp Packet Project (CPP) and contacted Pen Huston, the founder.

“The CPP is based locally in St Leonards and creates survival blankets and other items, such as bivvy bags for the homeless.

“I collected crisp packets from family and friends and used the supply that the CPP had. It takes about 56 crisp packets to make each blanket. In total seven blankets were made.

“You have to make grids of four and fuse them together to make a blanket size and then cover them in clear plastic, all of which is reusable and would have gone to waste. I really enjoyed fusing the packets together and seeing the end result, it was bit fiddly to start but then was quite easy.

“It was good to know that they would be going to people who needed them.”

Pen Huston, founder of the Crisp Packet Project, said: “It all started as a dream back in October 2019 when I had a dream and woke up in a green crisp packet.

“Since then we have had many people involved from different countries and communities. We have made over 5,000 items at our CPP HQ and sent them all over the UK and Ukraine plus Turkey.

“It’s great that we are assessors for the DofE as many candidates have helped us jump on board making strips and grids and preparing crisp packets for us.

“Savana has gone the extra mile with her grids and strips at home and on two of our free community CPP workshops we have here each Wednesday and once a month now on a Sunday.

“We are always looking for volunteers to join our fantastic friendly team either working from home or at The Art Shack in St Leonards (crisppacketproject.com). All our information is free and anyone can make items from all our information and videos to help in there community.

“This project helps so many people helping one use plastic waste and our less fortunate communities plus helps our volunteers with loneliness and mental health bring people together.

“Giving new life to one use plastic waste and in the cold months saving lives with the properties of the silver lining in the crisp packet reflecting their body heat back into their bodies keeping them warmer for longer.

“This project has been one big ball of magic from the start.”