A new crafts project, funded by the Communities Mental Health & Wellbeing Fund for Adults, is proving successful at Forth Valley College.
The initiative called Campus Crafts - Sustainable Textiles for Wellbeing and Ethical Enterprise, is an expansion of the successful project ‘Threads of Resilience’ that FVC ran in 2024.
Linda Paterson, FVC Curriculum Manager covering Art and Design in the Department of Creative Digital and Leisure Industries, said: “The new project - a Scottish Government funded programme which is managed locally by Stirlingshire Voluntary Enterprise (SVE) and Clackmannanshire Third Sector Interface (CTSI) - was created after a need for something more long term was identified.
“It offered participants a way to use their skills towards an enterprise outcome of some kind. On discussions with project partner Artlink, it became evident that there were groups of service users from Artspace - Artlink Centrals’ dedicated arts programme working with adult participants with diagnosed mental health problems across Stirling - who were finishing up at regular points throughout the year with nowhere to progress to.”
The initiative has been successful in recruiting students from Reachout with Arts in Mind, and also from participants who have had to leave or pause their studies due to diagnosed mental health conditions. The programme is designed to support participants in a ‘pathways to recovery’ approach for their mental health.
Linda, added: “Using our excellent textiles facility at our Stirling Campus, we are delivering fully funded textiles workshops from January to December, during term time, with a focus on wellbeing and enterprise.
“We aim to give participants a safe space to be creative and to meet other people to connect and create work suitable for sale at Craft Fairs and other venues. There is also a focus on building confidence, social skills and sustainability.”
Tracey Nicholson, Administration Assistant, Stirlingshire Voluntary Enterprise, said: “We’re proud to support a project that promotes wellbeing, sustainability, and ethical enterprise—offering a creative space for participants to build skills, confidence, and community through sustainable textiles.”
Pauline, Jackson, FVC’s Development and Fundraising Manager, said: “We were delighted that further funding from the Communities Mental Health and Wellbeing Fund will enable more adults with diagnosed mental health conditions in the Stirling Council area, to develop their creative learning and experience this within a campus environment. The success of the pilot project has informed our enhanced offer, building on our existing partnership, and incorporating an enterprise theme to the programme. I am looking forward to seeing the creative work produced as the project progresses.”
