About Us
Since our inception in 2020 we have provided over 76,000 hand crafted face masks free of charge to the NHS, Charities, Community Organisations, Foodbanks, Schools, Hospices, Care Homes and many others, supporting the health and welfare of all those working to support these groups.
Through these relationships, we have gone on to forge strong partnerships with many of these Organisations and at the same time, provided opportunity to our volunteer base.
We have crafted toy bags/clothes organisers/hygiene bags and toys for Baby Basics, supporting new mothers and families in difficulty and through our work with the Grace Project, have provided hygiene bags in support of its work towards gender equality.
Through our work with those supporting the most vulnerable in our community, we have continued to craft goods for use by Ashgate Hospice, supporting families in a time of crisis and generating much needed funding for them. We are also working with many Care Homes to provide Dementia aids in the form of twiddle muffs and dignity aprons and have recently forged a partnership with the Alzheimer’s Society to provide craft based group therapy as we move out of lockdown.
Across Education, we have worked closely with local schools, providing reusable face masks for pupils and staff alike and using the medium of craft as part of pupil led projects we have seen them go on to create their own hand crafted face masks and at the same time embrace the role of volunteering in our society. In turn, some of these schools have gone on to deliver their own hand crafted products to the organisations we support.
We have supported the Pathways and Archer Projects (for the homeless) making masks and neck warmers for rough sleepers, supported the NHS (bonding hearts for the Premature Baby Unit) and the Royal British Legion (in the repurposing of hand crafted poppies for resale in 2021) and for our volunteers we have provided a safe and inclusive space to meet and work and have recently embarked on drop-in skill sessions (crochet, card making, macramé) which are available to all. And last but not least, we are currently working on a community quilt that recognises the difficulty of recent times for many and the sheer energy and commitment of our volunteers to endure.
Our Charitable Objectives
The provision of facilities for education, recreation and leisure time activities in the intertest of social and community welfare with a view to improving the conditions of life of the inhabitants of the local community, in particular, through arts and crafts activities.
The relief of those in need by reason of youth, age, ill-health, disability, financial hardship or other disadvantage by the provision of hand made items, such as, clothing for those who are suffering from homelessness, ill-health, bereavement and long term terminal health.
Our Trustees
Our Trustees are responsible for controlling the work, management and administration of the charity on behalf of our volunteers, members and beneficiaries. They have done a wonderful job of guiding the volunteer group into the charity. They continue to be its backbone as it navigates through being a new charity while delivering the same value as we have over the past two years.
Our trustees are:
Shelagh Cheetham
Carol Anne Danson
Julie Cousins
Janet Ada Siddall
Shirley Metcalfe
John Plant
Gwen Plant