Seasonal Sew-cials and Volunteer Programme
We are now developing a pilot volunteering programme – to increase mental health friendly opportunities and support in Mid-Devon. In addition to a range of volunteering opportunities , we expect to foster mental health friendly training and understanding for interested volunters, who may or may not have lived experience of mental health issues. Volunteering activities will include, but not be limited to ‘sewing for social good’, woodland weeding, event support, and craft kit assembly. Some activities will need doing at specific moments and times, others can be done independently. Our programme aims to directly support Significant Seams 50% of the time, and support other organisations and community events too. (We do, after all, aim to ‘strengthen the seams of community!’)
Community , connectedness, meaningful pursuits, and empowering activities are established characteristics of wellbeing, and mental helath recovery. We are also ‘using what we’ve got’ in a conscious act of positivity – to ‘fuel’ something positive.
This Summer 2025, we are currently thinking about palettes of the seasons and seasonal events – and patching together scraps of fabric that would likely otherwise end up in landfill, into playful useable blocks of fabric that we can sell as a fundraiser – or use to make items to sell as fundraisers. This is partially inspired by Catherine West’s commissioned installation and the Crediton Tea Rooms, created with the Turning Tides’ community.
The proceeds of our fundraising sales are to support creative health activities, especially related to mental health.
Seasonal Sew-cials have been devised with some early volunteers – as opportunities for volunteers to gather, learn from one another and prepare materials together. In sessions, there may be activities like sorting scraps, patching patchwork packs, making sample items andr, button and trimming sorting. There will almost certainly be socialising and laughter. They are planned for the last Thursday afternoon of each month through the autumn.
Space in our venue is limited, especially when we start pulling out sewing machines. So, we are using the Eventbrite system like an admin assistant to help manage capacity and, as necessary, a wait list.
We LOVE interacting with you – but can lose focus because its so nice to chat – so we kindly ask you to RSVP via this system to help us stay on track and create fabulous creative moments together.
Whether you’re a seasoned pro or just starting out, this is a great way to connect with others and spur your creative mo-jo. Join us!
