Impact Arts

We’re delighted to announce that our Craft Cafe workshops free
arts workshops for over-60s has secured its future for three years thanks to
funding from the National Lottery Community Fund!

Craft Café, which runs at
Elderpark Housing Association’s Community Centre in Govan, has received £96,000
from the Lottery to run classes up until Spring 2022.

Craft Café offers a free drop-in service for participants
to socialise and learn new artistic skills from an artist-in-residence.

The project has been delivered
in Govan for 10 years and offers creative activities and art exhibitions to
over 80 current members.

The aim of the project is to
tackle the growing problem of isolation in older people while celebrating the
creative achievements of our ageing population.

The funding boost from the
Lottery will allow Craft Café to offer an additional day every week of outreach
work for older people in sheltered housing, care home and hospices throughout
Glasgow.

The funding comes following a
period of instability for the service, which required a social media
crowdfunding campaign last spring to ensure it could continue.

Staff and residents have spoken
of their relief that the service is now secure. Charlotte Craig is Impact Arts’
artist-in-residence who leads the workshops.

“We were totally over the moon
when we found out,” says Charlotte. “Uncertainty with funding has been an issue
every year I’ve been here and is always an underlying challenge.”

“This funding from the National
Lottery Community Fund means security for the members. It’s such a big part of
their life, with a lot of them describing it as a lifeline.

“As well as teaching new skills
and celebrating the members’ creative work, for many this place means having
support from peers, feeling valued and having a purpose.”

“The outreach we can now offer is an exciting expansion of
what we currently do. It will be fantastic to be able to help people who we would
otherwise not be able to reach.”

Danny Park, 70, has been attending Craft Café Govan since
2010. He says: “This has been the best place ever, and it’s just got better as
the years have gone on. I’d recommend it to anybody.”

“I’m most into the painting, but I’ve done knitting,
crochet, mosaics – it’s a variety. You’re not stuck just doing the same thing.
And you’re asked what you want to do.”

“Whether you want to do art, or you just want to sit and
have a cup of tea and have a blether, it’s just so welcoming.”

Humza Yousaf, MSP for Glasgow Pollok, who lent his support
to the crowdfunding campaign in 2018, was also pleased by the news.

“I’m delighted to hear that Craft Café has secured such a
significant amount of community funding,” he said. “This is testament to the
invaluable service it provides in Govan.

“Our over-60s have a lot to offer and the Craft Café
provides an opportunity to channel their creative talents. I look forward to
seeing the project develop over the next three years.”

Elderpark Housing Association have been long-standing
partners and supporters of Craft Café Govan, offering guidance, promotion and
financial support.

Shirley McKnight, Elderpark’s Depute CEO, said: “We are
absolutely delighted to hear the news that this award will enable the Craft
Café service to continue its fantastic work within our Centre.

“Craft Café provides such a valuable service to our local
residents and is a lifeline for many of our tenants and residents.”

Craft Café Govan workshops run Tuesday, Wednesday and
Thursday between 10am and 4pm at Elderpark Community Centre every week. The
service is entirely free and runs on a drop-in basis.

Impact Arts are also welcoming enquiries from care homes,
hospices and sheltered housing operators.

For more information, contact Charlotte Craig on
07793081951 or email [email protected].