Delivered 30 September 2021
Impact data and claims within this report are provided by the project creator and have not been independently verified by Spacehive.
Patched Together is a creative textiles project for Lewisham residents focused on teaching new skills and bringing people together even when they are apart, finding community through creativity.
The aim of Patched Together is to make learning textile skills accessible to all Lewisham residents and create an intergenerational community of crafters. The programme will build on the success of our pilot project which ran from Nov 2020 - Feb 2021. Over 12 weeks 75 households were delivered fortnightly textile kits teaching them how to do skills like darning, printing and embroidery. The patches they made were collected and will be sewn into collaborative artworks which are going to be exhibited in public spaces around Lewisham. We want to run the project again with more participants, improve it using the feedback we gathered from the pilot scheme and develop a new creative programme for initial participants. We will use our existing relationships with local support organisations to make it even more accessible for those with additional needs or who might not usually engage with this kind of activity. Priority will be given to those who are vulnerable, isolated or low income.
What we'll deliver:
Why it's a great idea:
Engaging in craft is proven to have a positive impact on mental health and working on a shared project can decrease feelings of isolation and create bonds in the community. These impacts were noted by our initial makers. Lewisham’s Health & Wellbeing Strategy 2016-19 shows an already high level of mental ill health in the borough relative to the rest of London and the UK, with the pandemic only heightening existing inequalities and vulnerabilities. We want the benefits of creativity to be accessible to all regardless of personal or financial barriers. For this next stage we want to work with organisations to help us target people who may not usually regard themselves as creative, or are feeling particularly disconnected, or have additional needs. Providing multiple spaces for communication allows makers to engage with one another and facilitators easily. Exhibiting the patches will bring life to public spaces and give makers a sense of pride and achievement.
Steps to get it done:
At least a third of the original makers would like to carry on receiving craft kits, they have stressed how much it has helped them during these difficult months. Final artworks will be donated to local community organisations near to where patchers live, including those who referred makers to the project. The makers will help us choose where they end up. Our experience from the pilot scheme and the extensive feedback we gathered will help us grow and evolve the project. We had a £2500 grant from Community Waves in November 2020 for 60 people which we extended to 75 using our own funds due to demand. Referral organisations we worked with were: VSL, Arts Network, Lewisham & Greenwich Mind, Lewisham Homes, Evelyn Community Store and Bring Me Sunshine. There are many more support services we can connect with through the boroughs extensive Community Connections programme. Rushey Green Timebank and Bromley Mind are already interested, we also have individuals on our waiting list.
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Thank you so much for helping us fund this amazing community project! All 10 Patchwork artworks are now being shown at our pop up shop in Lewisham Shopping Centre! Unit 21 Opposite Greggs. We are having a party to celebrate on Monday 28th March. 5:30-8 pm. Come and have a drink and some nibbles with us and meet some of the amazing makers! The exhibition is open every Friday and Saturday 11am - 5pm (Thursday 15th around Easter.) as a part of our Clothing Repair Station!
Brilliant news, thanks everyone!
Whoop, 40 people have pledged since fundraising began!
Whoop, 30 people have pledged since fundraising began!
So grateful to everyone who has backed us so far, thank you. We are so happy we are on the way! We just wanted to make sure you've seen we are holding a FREE Patched Together Darning Workshop on Saturday 20th March, it will be part practical workshop, part information session on Patched Together, part mending party! You can get a taste of the kind of thing we will be teaching for Patched Together. Please do join as a thank you for backing us, and you'll learn how to mend your holey socks! :) https://obby.co.uk/classes/crafts/sewing/darn-it-the-art-of-repair-1592491560 Please do share with any friends, families, neighbours you think might be interested too!
How will the money be spent?Total £5,299
Costs Breakdown
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Overfunding
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Total £5,299
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VolunteerAt Make Mee Studio we have been teaching sewing and craft activities to children and adults in Lewisham for the past 3 years. We offer workshops that are as accessible, inclusive, and as environmentally and socially beneficial as possible. We don't think money should be a barrier to the arts, we are passionate about giving as many people as we can the chance to unlock their creative potential and experience the positive impact making can have on mental wellbeing. The environmental impact of fashion and textiles is also an important strand to our work, we believe connecting students with the process of making can change attitudes and lead to people keeping and caring for their clothes for longer.
Founders Tracey and Jaime have varied backgrounds in tailoring, costume and sustainable fashion; we have both been sewing teachers for almost 10 years. Through Make Mee Studio we have run a whole host of accessible community workshops in Lewisham from working with young children to older people as well as vulnerable groups. We have partnered with community organisations, schools, youth centres, housing associations and homeless charities.
The pandemic has meant a huge shift in our business with in person classes not being possible for a large proportion of the year and we have seen a growing need for mindful and engaging projects for all ages that people can do from home, especially those who are isolated.
We want to push the boundaries of what being a teacher/ facilitator means, trying to engage people who think crafting and creating 'isn't for them' and giving people all the tools they need to be creative without barriers. An important part of our work is creating an approachable and understanding teaching atmosphere and creating a peer to peer network where makers can learn from each other.
We feel strongly that work that has already been produced during the pilot programme deserves to be showcased in Lewisham to give the makers a sense of achievement and to show to others what can be done when a community comes together creatively.
We believe Patched Together can have a much longer lasting legacy for Lewisham residents beyond the pandemic, unlocking skills people didn't know they could have and using creativity to bring people together.
Project Owner: Make Mee Studio The Project Owner takes legal responsibility for receiving and spending the funds raised and ensuring the project is delivered.
