Needle little calm in your life? Try Sew Positive!

A charity is helping share the wellbeing calm of creativity, one stitch at a time, thanks to grant funding support from South Cambridgeshire District Council.

Sew Positive is a small charity that hosts various classes and events bringing people together through sewing for positive mental health.

Their events have included a wellbeing creative day at Cambridge Central mosque, embroidery kit days at Shelford Library, and upcycling lampshades at the Hub in Cambourne by repurposing donated fabric.

Melissa Santiago-Val, Chief Executive of Sew Positive, thanked the Council in a presentation to the Grants Advisory Committee, where she outlined a range of events the charity has staged during the year.

“Sewing brings a calm state of mind which is good for mental health and wellbeing. It also helps those experiencing isolation as it brings people together through creativity,” she said.

“People feel socially connected, it helps their minds to slow down and relax and provides an opportunity for people to take time to themselves. Resting the mind is hugely beneficial and it is well proven that it has a positive health and wellbeing impact. In addition, the classes are an opportunity to provide intergenerational opportunities to pass on skills to young people.

”We also deliver creative wellbeing events to businesses to support our work, and we have a variety of volunteering opportunities and ways to get involved. If you would like to access any services, please subscribe to our Linktree and social channels."

In the last year, Sew Positive has provided 2,440 volunteer hours by 25 volunteers and has raised awareness on how to mend, repair or repurpose as part of a circular economy.

The charity’s volunteers recently attended the Let’s Go Circular event at the Grand Arcade shopping centre in Cambridge where they helped shoppers make a difference to textile waste by creating upcycled denim planters.

Cllr John Williams, Lead Cabinet Member for Resources, said: “In the last two years Sew Positive has received £4,800 from the District Council’s Community Chest grant funding pot to help support its work. We are delighted to learn about the positive mental health and wellbeing impact the charity is having on our local communities. Grass roots project like these are invaluable.”

• Visit Sew Positive on Facebook or Linktree
• Find out more about the District’s Community Chest Grants