Our Exeter: Whipton Sewing Bank

Drawing on their experience of delivering similar projects in other areas of the city, Our Exeter’s project sought to take participants on a creative journey to learn the basics of sewing/knitting/embroidery or crotchet or developing existing skills. Through Creative Arc funding, the team provided the equipment and materials for all participants to make items and learn skills that can be utilised in everyday life to help with cost-of-living price rises. from sewing on buttons to upcycling clothing for a new lease of life. Ultimately, the team aimed to increase participants’ self-confidence and build towards the creation of a peer led community project.

Across 12 workshops (equating to a total of 332 hours of impact/engagement over the duration), people were supported and nurtured through the informal, friendly environment; the programme was fluid to allow for participants to make suggestions for later sessions in the program that they felt would be beneficial to their learning and enjoyment.

The drop-in sessions were framed around some of the participants delivering a mini workshop on a fabric craft they were interested in and learning – the 4 craft sessions delivered were Ribbon Weaving, Leather keyrings, Macrame Plant holders and Needle Tatting, these sessions created the fun and friendly atmosphere where the item being made was not the sole outcome. At the project’s end, 5 participants stepped forward with a willingness to take on the responsibility of setting up the peer-led community group; Our Exeter CIC will now work with them in a volunteer capacity for the group to continue. This represents a step-change for Our Exeter, and this group will now form the template of other projects going forward.

Our Exeter have also managed to create links in a new area of the city, made new contacts, improved their reputation of delivering friendly, professional, fun engagement projects that promote mental health & wellbeing by bringing people together.

The delivery of this project has also reinforced an understanding of the gaps between funded, employed community builders trying to get projects up and running without members of the community having the confidence to take on the responsibility – by bridging that gap and facilitating short term engagement activities self-confidence can grow organically.