Poets in Paint Community Interest Company, Ellesmere Port

• Crafts • 30 participants • 1 session (December 2021)

Enable activity to restart Bring communities together Funding will ensure people feel safe participating

The Trinity Methodist Church in the town centre offered a community café before COVID-19. The event was part of the reopening of the community daily café, reconnecting people, introducing them to other events and activities and support (including food bank and mental health support) and welcoming them back through the doors.

Funding supported Poets in Paint to offer a free public craft session at a festive morning creating Christmas decorations on log slices:

The activity definitely connected communities, As well as our art and craft session, Trinity church volunteers ran a community café, gift stall and had Christmas carols sing- a-long. The whole atmosphere was very festive and there must have been up to 80 plus people attending the whole event. This was lovely, as we were unsure how Covid would effect the numbers of people attending.

Participants’ feedback and comments:

“We couldn’t wait to get here today. We would definitely do this again if it was offered.”

“This is great. We love doing crafts.”

“This is so good being able to bring the children to do this. Get them away from their screens!”

LEGACY: Plans to hold regular workshops four times a year at the Saturday café will offer art and craft sessions in collaboration with the café volunteers.