Reg Charity No. 1160494            Telephone: 07761 380685
Craft aid international
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Paper-making in Peru and other news...

4/7/2017

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After a very fruitful time in Ecuador, Susie has been in Arequipa for a week, seeing how the project there is getting on and giving support to the team. Yesterday was a historic day, as she and the 'Nuevas Fuerzas' group made the very first maize-leaf paper in Arequipa! A pile of maize is pictured below, with some traditional Peruvian fabric in the background!  "It was massive fun all round" says Susie, "and super productive too. I also met up with 3 of the differently-able outworkers: A pleasure and a privilege to work with these fabulous people." One of the trainees proudly holds up the first piece of finished paper below.
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Meanwhile, in the UK, we have been preparing for Easter, making Easter treats and flower decorations in our community craft sessions. (If you're interested in chocolate...the mini egg buckets below will be sold at St Mark's Church, Harrogate, on Palm Sunday!) Our community craft workshops continue to be a source of fun and creativity in the lives of the differently-able participants. Speaking to one of our regular participants the other week, he said how much he enjoys making things and seeing everybody each week.

​Our hospital craft sessions also continue to be an important opportunity for hospital inpatients to be creative, socialise and practice their motor skills. The participants had great fun marbling paper last week, producing some beautiful results!
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​It has also been encouraging to see several community groups running fundraising events for Craft Aid recently. Last week, Harrogate & District Soroptimists International held a coffee morning in aid of our work, raising £115, plus also selling some of our craft products.

​St Margaret's Church, where we hold some of our weekly craft sessions, have also continued to faithfully support us. This Easter season they are hosting a unique passion play at the church (8th April); entry is free and they're very kindly doing a collection in aid of our work. Please do head to Horsforth for this great evening! You can check out the advert here: ​
https://vimeo.com/206262655. 
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"Crosslight is a communal experience of theatre and worship which draws its audience into the Easter narrative. It tells the events of Christ’s Passion though the eyes of one disciple who failed, despite everything he believed so passionately:
'Caught in the crosslight of the flickering candles at the last supper, the torches of Gethsemane, the firelight in the courtyard, by the searching gaze of his Lord, Simon ‘the rock’ is shattered. The disciple chosen to lead, is in pieces.
As he hangs from the cross, Jesus is surrounded by a jeering crowd, laughing at his claim to be the Son of God. A small group of family and friends stands by until the agony ends. But the great friend who, more than any other, has stood by Jesus throughout the story is conspicuous by his absence.'
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‘A fascinating psychological drama… The show asks questions of its audience about what we learn through failure, the importance of forgiveness and the power of redemption… Tremendous.’ (York Press, 2016)"
Zawadi, St Aidan's School charity run by students, continues to fundraise for Craft Aid, and this April, they're holding a Ceildh for us. Please do join in the fun and come along! There will be live music and plenty of cake and Ceilidh dancing! This is being held at Mowbray Community Church Hall from 7.00-9.30pm on the 29th April. (See the poster for ticket prices.)

It's fantastic to see how our local community has really got behind Craft Aid's vision and is wanting to raise much-needed funds for our work in Peru, Ecuador and the UK. If you'd be interested in holding a fundraising event, please do get in touch and we can supply you with flyers, and any of our products if you wish to hold a stall. ​Thank you so much to everyone who is supporting us whether through fundraising, praying, donating or volunteering, from nearby or afar! We couldn't do any of our work without you! 

And finally, just to say, you can now buy tickets to our Summer Ball! 1st July at Constance Green Hall, St Aidans School, Harrogate. 7.00-11.30pm. Book early to avoid disappointment! 
​https://craftaidinternational.charitycheckout.co.uk/page1
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Written by
Ella Green

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Pom-Pom Magic

11/4/2016

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We've been super busy this last month creating some rather splendid Christmas garlands and wreathes. Glitter, as usual has been involved! But this year, we've also introduced some new pom-pom products. Pom-poms came into fashion this spring, and it's a trend that has stayed in the shops this summer and autumn. Now you can carry this fashion into your homes for Christmas with our fabulous new pom-pom wreathes! (Sneak peak above) We've been making them at our therapeutic craft sessions using wool that has kindly been donated to us. 
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Pom-poms are also going to feature at our exhibition at the Knitting and Stitching Show, one of the biggest craft fairs in Europe (see Tash's last blog post). It's being held at the Harrogate International Centre from the 24th-27th November. Our differently-able participants and volunteers will be selling our products there and teaching visitors how to make poms-poms using our special pom-pom gadgets! (Much better than the old school method using a cardboard circle!) You can now book your tickets to the Knitting and Stitching Show on their website: http://www.theknittingandstitchingshow.com/harrogate.  Please do come and say hi to us and have a look at our beautiful craft kits and products, all handmade in the UK & Peru by differently-able artisans. 
This month we've also been preparing for other selling opportunities and events. We're especially looking forward to our Candle-lit Carol service on the 1st December at St Peter's Church in Harrogte town centre. It's the perfect time and location for anyone in town to come along after work for some mulled wine and mince pies and sing some traditional carols together. We'll also be selling some of our products - a great opportunity to find some Christmas gifts! The service will feature a beautiful solo performance by acclaimed vocalist and harpist, Lucy Bunce.  Some of you may have enjoyed the concert she held for us last year. It will be a wonderful time to enjoy some peace and calm, in what can often be quite a frenetic season. Entry is free! 
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Whilst we're busy here in Yorkshire with craft sessions and events, our volunteers and employees in Arequipa have also been working hard. Fiona and Chris Courtman have now moved to work full-time at the project for the next few years, so we'll be sharing more about them and their work very soon... ​

Written by
Ella Green

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"You don't look disabled!"

10/12/2016

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Natasha first came to our craft sessions as a participant, but she now volunteers for us and sometimes writes articles about our work too. Here's a snippet from her latest piece of writing. Keep an eye out for this article in Harrogate newspapers! 
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"I cannot believe that in 2016 people with any form of disability are made to feel worthless and face discrimination on a daily basis. With the Olympics and Paralympics still fresh in our minds, we should now hope that people with all forms of disability, whether it's mental, physical, or emotional, get recognised with their own rights, and are given the recognition they all deserve, whether they are famous or not.

My name is Natasha, I have epilepsy and a form of dyslexia. On the outside, I look like an everyday person. Alas, I sometimes have problems fitting into society. I have been known to get strange looks when I show the conductor my bus pass. Some get really big eyes when I say, “Oh mine is a Disabled pass....” "But what is wrong with you?”, they all think. “You don't look disabled.”

I am a very creative, people person, who loves to make things, help others to learn new skills and make craft goods. Not having all the skills, space, or equipment myself, I am honoured to be able to volunteer for Craft Aid International. It's one of the only places I feel accepted.

At the beginning of the craft classes, everyone bustles around, helping to unload the car, and set up the equipment. Then we have a brief meeting about what we are making today, and if needed, we’re given instructions on how to make the items. Then once all the participants have arrived, the fun begins! And we get to choose one of up to four different crafts. We make greetings cards, flower brooches, mosaics, jewellery, marbled paper and more. At the moment, we are making Christmas goods!
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100% of all the money raised goes straight back to the charity. The craft classes are free of charge, with a break half way through, for a cosy chat, drink, cake or biscuit, sometimes even a homemade one!
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We are now very excited about our biggest event of the year, the Knitting and Stitching Show, (24- 27th November), which is being held at the Harrogate International Centre. The stall will be run by volunteers and the disabled participants, giving them the amazing opportunity to meet and greet visitors, and take part in the event. Also it gives everyone the perfect opportunity to meet our participant and get to know a little about them. Then they can get a true sight of what Craft Aid International is all about. They’ll get to see some of the goods that we make, and the story behind them.
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​At our stall, you’ll see our stunning handmade Christmas cards, snow flake craft packs, Christmas garlands, alongside our all-year-round goodies: a wide range of greeting cards, packs of marbled paper shapes and felt flowers. Then there will be Peru goods, including handmade jewellery, beads made out of cereal boxes, a wide range of greeting cards, Peruvian fabrics, and cushions made with traditional Peruvian material.

We will also have lots of different wools, and with the help of our friendly volunteers, you will have a chance to make your very own funky Pom-Pom. All we ask is a small donation, and for you to remember us, and tell all your friends about us! We look, forward to seeing you there to share in our excitement!" ​​​ ​
You can read the full article here.

Written by
Natasha Nathan

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Summer Highlights!

9/2/2016

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We’ve had an action-packed summer, so before we move into the next craft-filled academic year, we thought it would be a good time to savour some of most exciting moments of CAI’s Summer 2016: 

 1. Getting glammed up for our Summer Ball…

​Guests indulged in a gorgeous, candlelit, three-course meal, enjoyed some fabulous live Jazz, and won some amazing prizes (a         holiday in Barbados, a family photography shoot, a luxury facial and all sorts of other goodies). It was an unforgettable night and we raised over £6500 through the event!  (You can order your photos of the night here.)
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2. Unwrapping a stunning new range of Peruvian products… 

Every time a big cardboard box from Peru is delivered to the Craft Aid office, it feels like Christmas! It's always exciting to see all the new high-quality craft products that our differently-able artisans in Arequipa have been making. These vibrant cushions made from traditional Peruvian fabric are some of our newest arrivals.
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​They’ve already been very popular at craft fairs and stalls. We’ve even been… 

3. Selling our new products in London…

​In July, we had the amazing opportunity to have a stall at Plaza Latina, “London’s best Latin American festival” with music, food, dance, art and kids activities. Our craft products may even be appearing in shops in Shoreditch soon, so keep your eyes peeled…
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4. Seeing the incredible generosity of our supporters...

​We have so nearly raised the funds we need to buy the building in Arequipa, where we want to establish our craft centre. We have raised a huge amount of money in one year, and particularly over the last few months. ​We are so grateful to everyone who has given. To find out about our vision to employ more differently-able workers in Peru, watch the video.  

5. Enjoying some crafting fun at the heart of the Harrogate community…

​This July, we ran a Craftival at Happygate, Harrogate’s new arts & music festival. This event raised money for three local charities, and we were blessed to be one of the benefiting charities! We had three bustling craft areas where visitors could learn how to produce beautiful marbled paper, make some seriously funky pom-poms, or even create their very own mosaic (if you missed the event, fear not! Watch Susie’s mosaic tutorial here.) Our disabled participants created a spectacular mosaic sign for the event, which drew a lot of attention. It was great to be able to show visitors some of the activities that we do at our therapeutic craft sessions and to share about our work with the Harrogate community.
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It’s been a busy few months, and we’re excited about what’s ahead. Soon we’ll be waving off some new volunteers, who will be moving to work at our project in Peru, but more about that next time! 

Written by
Ella Green

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In three words...

6/9/2016

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At today's Harrogate workshop, I asked some of the people on my table to describe Thursday afternoon craft sessions in three words. They struggled to stop at three. As I was feeling lenient, I thought I would let them expand a little!
Enthusiastic, friendly, sociable
They all said that friendship was an important part of CAI craft workshops. "It's an opportunity to meet people from different walks of life" says Sara.
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Fun, relaxing, clever
"Every week is different. You never know what you will be doing that week". "Spontaneous" was another word they used! Craft sessions are exciting and different, as well as calming and therapeutic. One lady explained how the sessions are clever, beacause you don't just learn how to make crafts, but the workshops also encourage personal growth. "It's an opportunity to learn patience and kindness."
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Entertaining, illuminating, humbling
They are illuminating, because you learn new crafts, but you also learn about different people with different stories and different abilities." Several agreed that if you ever come feeling sad, you always meet people at the craft session whose outlook on life is so positive, even though they have faced huge difficulties and struggles. "It puts in things in perspective." 

Written by
Ella Green

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What Craft Aid International means to me

5/10/2016

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Natasha originally came to our craft sessions as a participant (see her last blog post about the craft sessions), but she now volunteers with us too and does a brilliant job. Here she writes about her experience and all the skills she’s learnt:
 
“I now not only help out at craft class, but also help at different talks, and craft stalls, where we get the opportunity to show the world the wonderful work done by Craft Aid International. We get to meet people and spread the word about CAI’s work. We write down what is sold, so that we know what products the consumer likes to buy,

I love the craft sessions too, and have now learned to always go with an open mind. I never think I know how to make everything, because I’m always amazed by all the new and exciting crafts we learn every week. So far I have learnt how to do tie-dying, how to make jewellery, felt flower accessories and paper-beads.

Some of my most enjoyable times have been working closely with the other disabled participants, giving them one to one help and support when needed. Or just, being there for them. All the smiles, laughter and joy warms my heart. The pride that you both feel when you see the finished item is priceless. I would love to bottle it all, and give it as a present to the families of the participants. I would love them to see the participants’ work. I think it would be really rewarding for them, in every way imaginable.”

Written by
Natasha Nathan

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New people, new products, new Peru film and plenty of poppies

5/3/2016

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We had a fantastic craft session in Horsforth on Friday: 5 participants visited for the first time, so we all made some new friends, and the volunteers did a wonderful job of welcoming everyone in. We got stuck into some crafts for our new product line (watch this space), as well as carrying on with some of our classic products too, including the flower brooches and hair accessories. The participants were so productive cutting out the felt flowers that we ended up with practically a whole poppy field! 
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 At break-time, we had tea and biscuits as usual (we have a few big biscuit fans in the group...including myself) and also watched our new short film about CAI's project in Peru. We've just posted it on the website this weekend, so you can now watch it here .

This 3 minute film captures some of the stories I heard when I was in Arequipa in March. It gives just a tiny insight into some of the many hardships faced by people with disabilities in Peru, as well showing the new freedom enjoyed by the people employed at the social enterprise. Something I heard whilst I was there, which didn't make it into the film, was a sad story from one of the women I spoke to. She told me that disability is often seen to be contagious, and so employers don't want disabled people to be part of their workforce. They are afraid of being around them, in case they 'catch a disability'. This is the kind of view that Craft Aid International really hopes to challenge in places like Arequipa.  Neema Crafts Centre (set up by our director, Susie) has successfully been overcoming these sorts of false assumptions and bringing healing to people, who've spent their lives being ignored by their communities.  We're only at the beginning of this journey in Arequipa, but we hope that this new social enterprise will not only provide employment, but will also break down barriers and unite communities in a very real and powerful way. 
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Written by
Ella Green

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Eye-catching fashion!

3/29/2016

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Ella writes: After a whirlwind of a time in Peru, we arrived back in the UK a week ago. We returned to Lima for a day after leaving Arequipa to find a few more specific beads for the jewellery prototypes (such as the one in the photo above) that Ellie, Susie and Fiona had designed during the week. In Lima, we visited a silver jewellery shop, where the lady serving us asked Susie where her bracelet was from. It was one of the bracelets we had made in Arequipa with the group of people with learning disabilities. It was really encouraging to hear that there could be a market for such a product in Peru, especially from someone who is in the jewellery business herself. 

Since coming back to the UK, we've been working on a new Craft Aid film about the project in Peru, so keep a look out for this on our website (coming soon to a computer screen near you!) Whilst we were away, the craft sessions in Harrogate, Ripon and Leeds continued as usual, and some of our volunteers held an Easter stall, selling some of the crafts made in our sessions (I hear that fluffy chicks and chocolate were a feature.)

There is lots coming up for Craft Aid over the next few months, including an exhibition at a Christian youth event and our Summer Ball. (Head over to the events page and book your tickets!) Preparations are now getting underway!
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We will also be putting lots of energy into fundraising for the new craft centre in Arequipa over the next couple of months. We've raised a huge amount already, and the small baptist church in Arequipa have done a fantastic job of raising funds too. We've got half the money we need to buy a building, but time is limited. The building that we are particularly interested in won't stay on the market forever. If you would like to put on a fundraising event for us, or donate to the project, please do get in touch or go to our donate page. Any amount you can give will make a difference! The project is already transforming lives of differently-able people in the community, but there is still so much further to go if we want to have the space to train and employ the many people currently on the streets, who are living with a disability.
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January - What Craft Aid did next...

2/2/2016

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Ella writes:

​This month has been a busy one as usual, with craft-training sessions for volunteers, preparation for a trip to Peru, our Back-to-the-Blitz fundraising party, as well as plenty of other things to keep us occupied. Not that we really need to be ‘kept occupied’ in the Craft Aid office - I don’t think we will ever run out of things to do!
 
At our craft-training sessions this month, Susie taught the volunteers how to do screen-printing; everyone enjoyed getting stuck in:

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And if you look closely at the photo on the right, you will see that yet again glitter is involved in this craft activity. #Glitterforever! Craft Aid's new tagline perhaps?

Susie has also been introducing some new beautiful card designs to be made in our UK therapeutic craft sessions. For the tea-drinkers (so most of the British population I imagine), we now have a very cute tea-cup design. Keep an eye out for this one, as these cards may get snapped up rather quickly…
 
One of the highlights of the month was our Back-to-the-Blitz party in aid of our project in Peru. 
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There was lots of fantastic dressing up (including some great fake moustaches and victory roll hair-styles), a photo booth with some funky props, plenty of bacon baps and chocolate cake, as well as an absolutely awesome 14-piece Jazz band (The NightFlyers), who volunteered to play throughout the evening, so we could all dance the night away! They played a mixture of old and new tunes, all in a typically 1940’s Big Band-style. A huge thank you to them for generously giving up their time to join us and give us an incredible night!
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Take a look at some more photos of the event over in our gallery to get a better idea of the highly vintagey atmosphere! ​We are still in the process of working out the financial income from the evening, but we have definitely raised a really good amount towards our work in Peru, so thank you to everyone who came and supported us. We’re sending a volunteer design-graduate to Arequipa very soon, which will help the project to progress further, but more about that exciting news in another post.
 
And so for now, cheerio! (The 1940’s effect still hasn’t worn off quite yet…)
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Crafts for Christmas...

12/11/2015

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Yesterday I had a little chat with the lovely Debby*. Debby has been coming to CAI Craft Sessions for over a year now. She likes spending time doing craft and various church activities (she is pretty busy at this time of year with plenty of Christmas parties!) When I asked Debby if she had a favourite craft activity, she said "everything". I have now had this same response from several participants, so it seems the crafts are really too enjoyable to choose between! Whilst Debby may not have a favourite craft, she clearly has a gift for beading. I noticed that she often wears a colourful cross necklace; a lady at her church gave her the cross pendant as a present, which Debby turned it into a necklace with multicoloured beads. She tells me she wears it everyday, and it reminds her of her faith. This Thursday she was making a couple of rainbow-coloured necklaces for Christmas gifts. At the end of the session she surprised craft volunteer, Lynn, by giving one to her. Lynn models it beautifully in the photo below!

*names have been changed.
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    Authors:

    Susie Hart MBE
    Director of Craft Aid International
    Textile designer, Crafts instructor, Social entrepreneur, CMS Mission - Associate

    Liz Cluderay
    UK Programmes Officer and Volunteer Coordinator

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