Craft It Bags
Pink House has been fortunate to secure funding from Central England Co-operative to supply regular monthly craft activities to our Pink House Craft Club and also to residents living at Stronglands Court, Oundle.
About the project
Discover how we came up with an idea to ease the stress of lockdown.
Change of Direction
Like many businesses, the Corona Virus transformed the way we worked overnight. We have had to put on hold plans for craft events and craft workshops and find a new way to continue to deliver our services. Although we are a small company it still took time to find the right solution that would help and benefit the people we work with.
IDeas
We explored many ideas – Zoom craft tutorials, and Weekly Craft Challenges. None where suitable for everyone’s needs. Finally, we came up with a credible idea. We discussed this with our Craft Club and with residents living locally in social housing. Everyone was interested. Finally had a viable plan to help ease the stress and anxiety of lock-down.
The importance of conversation
Our idea had to work for all our participants. We spoke to them about their feelings about the lockdown and how they were coping. We discovered that many were fearful and worried, others missed meeting with family and friends. Many could not continue with crafts or hobbies, either because they were cancelled, or they could not visit shops or did not have the technology or the desire to shop online. Sadly many people felt that they had been forgotten.
Craft it Bags
Craft It Bags – an idea that is a perfect fit for the people we work with. Each month a beautiful tailor-made bag of crafts and other activities is delivered by Pink House direct to the recipient’s door.
Finding the funds
After several failed funding bids we finally secured funding from Central Co-operative England. The Craft It Bag Project will be a pilot and we hope to be able to expand our services to include more local people who are still very much affected by restrictions of the Corona-Virus.
Our First Delivery
Our first monthly Craft It Bags were delivered in early August and we will be contacting participants for their feedback. We are now preparing for the next delivery Craft It Bags in September. As you can see it has taken us quite some time to implement our ideas. Looking forward we hope to secure more funding based on the results of this project and help other people who are still facing uncertainty and anxiety during these difficult times.
5 Months on
Our Craft-It Bags Project goes from strength to strength. Many of our recipients are trying new and different activities that at the start of the project they would never have considered doing. Everyone enjoys receiving their monthly Craft-It Bag.
Lockdown 2
During Lockdown 2 many people were anxious, wondering what would happen with the onset of Winter. Due to poor health, some people we deliver activities to haven’t been out and socialised with friends or family since March. During telephone conversations, they told us how much the activity bags helped them each month and boosted their spirits.
More funding
We have been very fortunate that we have been able to secure additional funding to continue to support housebound and people who are still shielding. Northamptonshire Community Foundation has very kindly agreed that grant funding we had secured to host a Get Creative Event in May this year, can be used to continue to provide activity bags. This is fabulous news and means we can support people for longer.
If you are interested in finding out how we can help members of your community during these difficult times please get in touch.
Contact us
Address
Pink House Arts CIC
c/o Bulley Davey
6 North Street
Oundle
PE8 4AL
Company No: 11587956
© 2020 Pink House Arts CIC
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