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  The Street Style Surgery Salfordby Tom Rodgers
Born in Toxteth - a deprived area of Liverpool, told she'd never make it higher than a sewing machinist in a factory, expelled at 15, living in a hostel, life was never simple for Sissy Rooney. But determined to turn it around and make something good out of her life, Sissy started the Street Style Surgery. She goes into schools to produce workshops in fashion design, to help disadvantaged and disaffected kids in Salford and Manchester express themselves creatively. The emphasis is on quick style, and on recycling clothes: "I can't tell you how many kids nowadays get a stain on something and just throw it away. "The recession," says Sissy, "is requiring us all to be a little more creative with how we use things. And the Street Style Surgery has inspired kids across Salford so much that they're clamouring for Sissy to have a teaching job in their school. "I've been offering teaching jobs in schools before, but I'd never take it because I wouldn't want to just have one base. There's not enough of me to go around, and I wouldn't be able to reach all of the kids who need telling that they've all got potential." And in reclycing tops, she doesn't just cover a stain. She spraypaints a cool-looking icon over the top to create an entirely different garment. And then teaches the kids how to do it themselves. It's an ethos that's winning Sissy awards, including the Future 100 Entrepreneurs list, she is also a finalist for the UK Young Fashion Entrepreneur 2009. She's already given her masterclasses at Barlow RC High School and Buile Hill - and we should say, coming to a school near you...
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