Let It Sew This Christmas
National crafting fundraiser will support thousands with mental health problems
Mind is calling on everyone across England and Wales to get crafty this Christmas to help the charity provide vital support for the one in four people who live with a mental health problem each year.
Crafternoon is part of Mind’s festive fundraising drive and means getting together with friends, family or colleagues and holding an afternoon of creative fun. Whether it is card making, knitting, crocheting, or bauble making, crafting of all kinds can be good for our mental health. Anyone can host or take part in a Crafternoon at a time that suits them.
Whether you organise a Crafternoon at work, school or at home, inviting everyone you know to enjoy a fun, craft-themed event and raise funds for a good cause can boost both your mood and your wellbeing. Mind knows that lots of people find creative activities like colouring in and needlework particularly therapeutic because they help you switch off from day to day pressures, turn negative thoughts or feelings into something positive and give people the opportunity to socialise.
Lily Harvey, 20, a keen crafter based in Reading said: “I want everyone experiencing a mental health problem to get the support they need, especially at Christmas. When I was younger I was diagnosed with autism and I was bullied at school, this led on to me living with depression and anxiety, which manifested into an eating disorder, but because I was under 18, I couldn’t get the help I needed. Lily blogged for us about her Crafternoon too.
“I discovered Mind when I was going through a bad time and trying to find out more about depression and anxiety online. That’s when I came across Mind’s website and all the mental health information, blogs and videos with people sharing their own experiences.
“When my sister Emma heard about Mind’s Christmas Crafternoon, it seemed like the perfect fit – a way to combine our love of crafting with fundraising for a cause close to our hearts. Mind’s Crafternoon pack you get when you sign up is great material. We just used tools and materials we had to hand. We made Christmas tree decorations, paper cut outs and Gingerbread men. I’m working on my print designs for our next one, just in time for Christmas cards.”
Karen Bolton, Community & Events Manager for Mind, added: “We’re really hoping people will support us by getting involved with Crafternoon in the run-up to the festive season. It’s the perfect excuse to spend time with family and friends and, even better, it’s a great way to boost mental wellbeing.
“Creative activities are particularly therapeutic because they help you switch off from day to day pressures, turn negative thoughts or feelings into something positive and give people the opportunity to socialise. Crafternoon helps to improve your mental wellbeing while supporting Mind and their life changing work.
“Every penny raised will make a huge difference – just £50 could help Mind fund a day of outdoor therapy to support somebody battling anxiety or depression.”