Crafting connection: Building resilience through community and corporate workshops

‍A New Chapter with Waltham Forest Adult Learning Service

Over the past few months, I’ve had the privilege of joining the fantastic team at Waltham Forest Adult Learning Service (ALS) — an organisation that truly believes in the power of creativity to strengthen communities. Working with ALS allows me to bring people together through craft, building resilience, confidence, and wellbeing one stitch at a time.

Our workshops invite learners from all walks of life to slow down, reconnect, and rediscover their creative voice. From sewing and quilting to crochet and bag-making with reclaimed fabrics, each session is more than a technical exercise — it’s a moment of mindfulness and shared discovery.

Craft for Purpose

Beyond community settings, I also design and deliver corporate wellbeing workshops that use craft as a medium for connection and reflection.

In collaboration with partners such as Peabody, Lendlease and JLL, I’ve introduced hands-on sessions that encourage teams to pause, create, and find meaning beyond productivity metrics. These workshops help nurture emotional balance, team cohesion, and a renewed sense of purpose — especially valuable in today’s hybrid, high-pressure environments.

Participants often express how grounding it feels to create something tangible with their own hands — a reminder that creativity isn’t just for artists, it’s a tool for wellbeing, empathy, and belonging.

Impact and Outcomes

Some key outcomes we’ve seen across both community and corporate programmes:

• 💬 92% of participants reported reduced stress and improved mood after just one session.
• 🧵 85% said they felt more confident about their creative abilities.
• 🤝 78% experienced stronger connections with others through collaborative making.
• 🌱 Each course uses an average of 5–7 kg of reclaimed textiles, reinforcing circular economy principles and sustainability goals.

These numbers are meaningful, but what matters most are the smiles, the stories, and the sense of community that emerge in every room.

Join the Movement

Whether you’re part of a community group, a workplace, or a local organisation, there’s always space to collaborate.

If you’d like to host a creative wellbeing workshop, partner on a community initiative, or simply learn more about how crafts can support resilience and connection, I’d love to hear from you.

📩 Get in touch via theoakum.com/contact or message me directly to start a conversation.

Because creativity — when shared — becomes more than an art form.
It becomes a way to heal, connect, and grow together.