Tackle loneliness with creativity this Christmas

Coffee, cake, creativity and community, what’s not to love? This festive season, bring your colleagues, student society or community group together for a Crafty Coffee Morning in support of Impact Arts’ Craft Café Govan project.

It’s a simple, fun and meaningful way to raise funds while helping older people experiencing social isolation and loneliness one of Glasgow’s most deprived areas.

Scroll down to download your own Crafty Coffee Morning poster!

What is Craft Café Govan?

Craft Café is Impact Arts’ life-changing creative wellbeing programme for older people in the Govan area of Glasgow. Since 2010, it has provided a welcoming space where older people can connect with others, explore arts and crafts, and access vital wellbeing support.

Many of our members live alone, have experienced bereavement, or face challenges including poverty, loneliness, and poor physical or mental health. Through free weekly creative activities and wellbeing sessions, they can build friendships, learn new skills, enjoy refreshments and outings, stay connected to their community, and stay independent for longer.

Our members say:

“Craft Café is the highlight of my week.”

“I would despair if Craft Café wasn’t there.”

“Craft Café is a lifeline and it gives me something to look forward to.”

“There’s nowhere else. I’d be lost without Craft Café.”

What is a Crafty Coffee Morning?

A Crafty Coffee Morning is exactly what it sounds like: gather people together, enjoy some coffee and homemade baking, and get creative while raising funds for a great cause.

Whether you’re organising an event with work colleagues, a university society, a local club, community organisation or group of friends, it’s easy to take part.

Get crafty with activities such as:

  • Christmas card making
  • Festive decorations
  • Colouring or drawing
  • Knitting or crochet
  • Embroidery or cross-stitch
  • Jigsaw puzzles
  • Any other creative activity your group enjoys

No artistic experience is needed. The focus is on bringing people together and having fun.

How it works

1. Pick a date

Host your Crafty Coffee Morning anytime before 6 December 2026.

2. Bring the baking

Ask participants to bring along cash and homemade cakes, traybakes, biscuits or other sweet treats to sell for £1 or £2 each.

3. Get creative

Ask your group to bring along creative activities and enjoy a relaxed morning of crafting, conversation and connection.

4. Donate your fundraising

Collect the cash raised and make your donation through our Big Give Christmas Challenge campaign page between 1-8 December 2026.

Here’s the important part:

During the Big Give Christmas Challenge, every donation made through our campaign page for Craft Café Govan between 1-8 December 2026 will be DOUBLED at no extra cost to you.

That means:

  • £250 becomes £500
  • £500 becomes £1,000
  • £1,000 becomes £2,000

Your fundraising could have twice the impact, helping us support even more older people experiencing loneliness during the festive season and beyond.

So, please make sure you collect cash donations during your fundraiser, deposit the total into a bank account and then make an online donation via our Big Give campaign page.

Why your support matters

No older person should feel alone at Christmas.

The funds raised through your Crafty Coffee Morning will help Craft Café continue providing:

  • Free creative wellbeing sessions
  • Social connection and friendship
  • Hot drinks and refreshments
  • Wellbeing support and signposting
  • Day trips and community activities
  • Opportunities for older people to stay active, creative and independent

By hosting a Crafty Coffee Morning, you’ll not only bring your own group together, you’ll help ensure older people in Govan feel connected, valued and supported too.

Ready to get involved?

Gather your colleagues, student society or community group, put the kettle on, get crafty and help tackle loneliness with creativity this Christmas.

Download your own Crafty Coffee Morning poster print out

Crafty Coffee Morning Craft Cafe Poster (A4)Download

Together, we can make sure older people in Govan have a heightened sense of belonging this festive season and throughout the year. ❤️

If you have any questions or would like to learn more, please email: development@impactarts.co.uk

Impact Arts is a community arts charity based in Scotland. Since 1994, we’ve been delivering creative arts and support programmes for children, young people, adults, families, and older people who are facing disadvantages or barriers to progress in life. Our mission is to tackle inequalities, address poverty, and transform lives through art and creativity.  

Paul, inspired by seeing his brother’s achievements on our Impactful Starts employability programme, joined our Cashback Summer programme in the hope of having fun, making friends and spending time over the summer gaining new skills. Paul initially believed art wasn’t for him. He came to the group not knowing anyone and having little to no experience of using art materials or art practice. The challenge for Paul was getting the time to try out new things for himself and seeing that being creative was something he could do. However, throughout the programme, he not only made new friends but also embraced various art activities, contributing to a group quilt and discovering a passion for creating his own video games.

Despite limited prior experience, Paul excelled in gaining his SQA Practical Abilities qualification, showcasing his commitment to learning and teamwork. Engaging in the John Muir Award, he actively participated in environmental conservation activities, displaying leadership and mentoring skills. Paul’s journey on the programme highlighted personal growth, from overcoming scepticism about art to excelling in diverse projects.

Looking ahead, Paul plans to return to school and has applied for a Digital Marketing apprenticeship. Over the course of the programme Paul worked really well with others and wasn’t afraid of trying out new things, and can see that doing so results in identifying new interests outside of school.

Paul said; “The programme has really helped me mentally and helped take my mind off of other things going on. I believe Cashback Summer is a great opportunity for young people like myself. It’s really helped me, and I have to thank the staff, and all the people that came in to show us how to do things like First Aid and stop motion animation!”

CHRISTMAS GIFTS FOR CHARITY

Every year our Craft Café Govan members aim to create a number of projects where they make things of use for other charitable causes. They wanted to find small charities and organisations where their gifts could feel more personal and be more useful. Emphasising that Christmas is not just a time for consuming and receiving, but giving and showing kindness.

They chose a local based charity to give to; Amma, for babies and mothers. Amma provide care, information, and advocacy for women who face birth and parenthood alone, and offer birth and postnatal companionship, education and support. They often work with refugee and asylum-seeking women, survivors of human trafficking, and other individuals experiencing multiple disadvantages. The members created personal giftboxes for the parent and baby, with a knitted teddy an item of baby clothing, a hand written card, a lavender bag and a handmade soap. Making twenty-five gift boxes for the charity.

After the success of last years gifts to Florence House care home, they decided to do it again. The members made 20 gift parcels, containing a painting, a copy of their Back Court Concerts booklet, a knitted blanket, a lavender bag and a card. The gifts will go to those residents who are more isolated and do not receive many visitors. The contents of the gift parcels were matched to the tastes and interests of the residents.

Last week our Craft Café Govan members launched their Back Court Concert exhibition at The Boardwalk.

The amazing work of 50 Craft Café members was celebrated with a beautiful showcase of their work from the past year. From an Indian ink project to watercolours from the community garden. As well as individual artwork from members past and present.

The main event was the Back Court Concerts project, celebrating the playful performances the members put on in the back courts as kids. Including a miniature tenements set, a crankie shadow puppet machine, and some performances by the members.

Thank you to everyone who came along and helped celebrate our amazing members. The exhibition will be on display till 17th November at The Boardwalk and we highly recommend you pop in to see the wonderful, nostalgic pieces of art!

Location: The Boardwalk, 105 Brunswick St, Glasgow

We are celebrating the creative achievements of our Craft Cafe Edinburgh members. The Spring exhibition features art made between May 2022 and February 2023 in the three Viewpoint care homes in Edinburgh.

Artwork from Lennox House Care Home (above)

The work on display celebrates the creative achievements of residents from St. Raphael’s Care Home, Marian House Care Home, and Lennox House Care Home, who have attended Craft Cafe. The collection demonstrates a wide range of themes, interests, styles, and techniques – and aims to highlight the uniqueness of each person’s creative expression.

Artwork from Marian House Care Home (above)

It is an honour to be a part of people’s creative journeys; it is a pleasure to listen to the stories of our members and support them to play and experiment with art. Last year saw the return of friends and family to our Craft Cafes. We have sadly said goodbye to our lovely members at Lennox, following the closure of this care home in December 2022. However, we look forward to welcoming Viewpoint tenants to Craft Café again for the first time since 2020.

Artwork from St Raphael’s Care Home (above)

Thank you so much to all the members for their contributions to Craft Café, and this exhibition.

If you have any questions about the collection or about the work we do at Craft Café, please feel free to get in touch with Sarah Derron at sarah.derron@impactarts.co.uk or 07585 130068.