Through additional Arts Council funding and a generous donation from the National Federation of Women’s Institutes (NFWI) the Crafts Council and UK Hand Knitting Association’s Craft Club initiative is expanding into a range of community settings including museums, libraries and cinemas.
Following a successful first year of activity the Craft Club scheme now has 350 active clubs in primary schools across the UK teaching children craft skills with the help of local volunteers via lunchtime or after-school clubs.
Craft Club will build on this success by setting up clubs outside of schools. It will work on the same premise with volunteers passing on their skills to others in a fun and lively environment – in this case to parents as well as children. It will strengthen bonds between local communities and between family members by enabling them to learn new skills together.
Eleven volunteer training events will take place across the UK this autumn including events in Cardiff, Margate, London, South Shields, Sheffield and Walsall. These training events will result in up to 300 new volunteers knowing how to effectively and confidently pass on their knowledge and skills to others. These training host venues will then be supported to set up a regular Craft Club at their venue using the trained volunteers.
They will also be supported by the online resource www.craftclub.org.uk that provides practical tips, project ideas and an online forum connecting people who are passionate about craft and learning new skills.
People who are interested in attending one of these training events can book online. If you are unable to book online please ring the Crafts Council on 020 7806 2500.
