Sew productive – and good for your mental health
16 Apr 2020
How close-knit University crafters are staying in touch to raise funds for Wood Street Mission and Manchester Food Bank
In Stitches, a crafting group founded at the University nine years ago, are still going strong despite our campus and country’s momentous situation.
The group, which boasts 50 members, have set up weekly meetings on Zoom and a Facebook group – and everyone is welcome!
“We normally meet up every week, either on North or South campus, so this has actually brought us all together even more,” says coordinator Diane Bennett, Teaching and Learning Manager (online learning) in the Division of Teaching, Learning and Student Development.
“It has made a big difference to so many of us in different situations. For example, Jane Wells, who has retired from RBESS and lives alone, says it’s lovely to keep up with us all. And we have a new member, Fidel Peacock, from Export Control, who is the husband of a crafter and saw it as a good opportunity to meet colleagues.
“This group has been a great support and we lift each other’s spirits.”
Diane also lives alone but is incredibly busy in her role in online learning and also shopping for three households, hers and two friends who are required to self-isolate.
“Crafting helped me when I lost my mum a few years ago,” she explains.
“My friends were a great support, but sometimes I needed some space so I went on a crocheting course. I am not good at meditating but focusing on that one thing in the moment, I found that calming.”
The group was founded by Charlotte Hooson-Sykes, an Executive Assistant at the Faculty of Science and Engineering, because she needed advice on her knitting. The first meeting filled the Simon Building café and it quickly became a “friendly and creative” social group. Now it has come into its own.
Not only that, all the members are creating lots of beautiful items to sell when we return to campus. This will raise funds for two local charities, Wood Street Mission and Manchester Food Bank.
“My advice to colleagues is get crafting!” says Diane.
“It’s good for your mental health – and productive as well.”
In Stitches are now hosting weekly Zoom meetings between noon and 2pm every Wednesday.
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