Last week our Craft and Chatter group sent off another (very large) package of knitted cardigans, hats and blankets to Greenfields Africa, helping new mums and their babies.

Craft and Chatter

Chatter Craft and chatter is now in its 7th year. Each Thursday afternoon you will find there is lots of chatter and refreshments as well as a variety of crafts. This changes each week with the numbers attending each week, knitting, crochet, card making, patchwork, painting and embroidery some weeks. New members have come along to learn how to crochet, or knit, and members have helped them achieve this. Resources are shared and it is a place to make friends whilst doing something productive.

Update from Greenfields Africa

We have continued to support Greenfields Africa by making blankets, cardigans and hats. Getting clothes into Africa has become increasingly difficult and uneconomic. Currently because of this the warm clothing and blankets are being sent to Syria, where there are many desperate people in need. The trustees constantly review all their projects and, with regret, have decided that, for a number of reasons, this project will not be sustainable for the whole of 2019.

All the stock in the warehouse in Telford will be collected in July by Medic Relief International and will be delivered to Syria or other war-torn areas who are in need, ready for the Winter of 2019/20.

The work of Greenfields Africa in Kenya continues.  Our fully accredited hospital is developing at an exciting pace in delivering excellent life changing healthcare, child development and safe maternity services. We are making great strides in controlling and reducing the incidence of Jiggers infection in schoolchildren and the Girls’ Gear project is now providing schoolgirls through the provision of free sanitary protection, the opportunity to compete on equal terms with boys.   Previously they often had to miss 3 or 4 days of school per month.

We are delighted to tell you that of the 20 children we sponsored through Secondary School, eight are now at University, reading medicine, public health, journalism, hospitality and tourism and similar subjects. The remaining 12 are doing vocational courses, all of which will help them gain employment and so enable them to support their families in the future.

The last collection from Craft and Chatter will in fact be on 20^th June but we are keen to support other charities. Many of the charities who would send knitted/crocheted items overseas are finding transport costs prohibitive so no longer ask items.

If you have a charity you think we could help please let us know and it will be put to the group for consideration.

We have taken part in the St. Mark’s Craft Fayre, giving us a chance to meet many more people and appreciate the crafts made by others. Currently we are also preparing for the 2019 Craft Fayre in November

If you have any wool lurking in a cupboard or drawer that you have no use for we would be delighted to make good use of it for you.

We are at St. Mark’s on Thursdays from 1.30pm-3.30pm and new members are always welcome, perhaps you would like to learn about a craft or would like to share what you do with others just come along on a Thursday afternoon and you will be made very welcome. Why not come along and give it a try? There is no entrance charge, but donations towards the cost of heating, lighting, refreshments and materials are on a voluntary basis.