Lottery boost to help bring sewing skills to the next generation

A WARRINGTON community group has won almost £8,000 in National Lottery funding to bring sewing skills to the next generation.
Burtonwood Sewing Group is celebrating after receiving the £7,870 grant.
The group, based in Burtonwood, will use the cash to run fun but ecofriendly sewing sessions for children aged 7 – 12. Children will be given the opportunity to create a range of practical clothing – PJ’s, shorts, slippers to name a few- and at the same time help save the planet.
It has been running since 2013 and is run by volunteers.[GJ1] It was founded by Anne Carr who realized that the sewing group could encourage youngsters in the village to help themselves.
The group runs four adult sessions a week, where they meet not only to share their passion for sewing but also for creating friendships and for socializing. On offer are trips, workshops and monthly projects. For the past four years, during school holidays, BSG has been engaged by IKEA to provide children’s textile crafting sessions at their store in Warrington. Many BSG members voluntarily sign up for these sessions. Their reward has been in the form of furniture and fittings for the group’s sewing room and ex-stock textiles.
Anne Carr said: “Following the success of our crafting sessions at IKEA it was evident that we could offer the same kind of thing, if not better, at our sewing room. We trialed it last year and set about getting a plan in place for this year.
[GJ2]“Sewing is tactile, it’s calming but it’s also exciting! The sessions will help the children to make friends, whilst learning new skills and, most importantly, having fun. While enjoying themselves, the children are also gaining greater confidence, self-belief and important collaboration skills. “
The funding from The National Lottery Community Fund, has ensured the group are geared to offer the children something brand new. They will be creating something useful, that is, learning a skill to last them their lifetime and they’ll be doing all of this in the only Tardis in Burtonwood!
Anne added: “We’re delighted that The National Lottery Community Fund has recognised our work in this way. It’s great that we can encourage the children to come and sew. We’d like to think that they will encourage their parents, grandparents, aunts or uncles to join them for at least one session. Now, thanks to National Lottery players [GJ3]we will be able to press on with our plans to broaden the range of opportunities available to local children with disabilities and their parents. This is important because it helps both the children and the parents to build relationships with others facing similar challenges and to create their own supportive circles of friends and peers.”
The first sessions start on Saturday, September 7 but they’re booked up. But the group is encouraging anyone who lives in the Burtonwood, Collins Green or Winwick areas to get in touch so they can plan for the future.
The group can be contacted at [email protected] or by contacting Anne Carr on 07745 258925.