Activity Bags
Pink House has been fortunate to secure funding from the following:
Central England Co-operative, The National Lottery Community Fund, and Northamptonshire Community Foundation to supply monthly activities to adults who are housebound or shielding during the pandemic.
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.
Activity Bags
Activity 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
Pink House secured funding from Central Co-operative England. The Craft It Bag Project became a pilot and we were able to start helping people who were either housebound, isolated or shielding.
Our First Delivery
We delivered our first Activity Bags in early August 2020. It took time to implement our ideas and various adjustments along the way. 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 Activity Bag Project goes from strength to strength. To continue our project we have received National Lottery funding, which will help us to deliver more activity bags around the county. Many of our recipients are trying new and different activities that at the start of the project they would never have considered doing.
Lockdowns
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 people who are housebound or shielding. Northamptonshire Community Foundation has provied support so that we can 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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