Handcrafted

Good to see some familiar faces and shots of our latest property renovation on this celebratory end-of-year film of the work of Virgin Media Foundation. Great work, everyone!

This morning, Shola Ameobi dropped by to meet the trainees and pick up a grazing board he'd commissioned from us.
"It looks amazing, and it far exceeded my expectations. Thank you. I wanted to come down and see for myself what you are doing here and it's fantastic work, a great project."

Rustic snowmen are looking forward to going home with YOU from our Christmas Fayre TOMORROW! https://www.facebook.com/events/219072140 1250089/

Forget Santa's workshop ... Get out in front with your Christmas shopping and see what our brilliant trainees have been making for our annual Handcrafted Christmas Fayre. https://www.facebook.com/events/219072140 1250089/

Our annual Christmas Fayre is a perfect opportunity to stock up on unique, handmade gifts for your loved ones, get in the festive spirit and support our ongoing work. We turn the workshop into a winter wonderland market, with games to play, hot food and drink and a wide range of seasonal products.

Come and join our team - we have new job vacancy! We are looking for someone who has the organisational skills to help with the core work of keeping the charity running.
We're looking for a Finance Assistant and this role is part-time and home-based.
Please contact us to get a recruitment pack if this could be you: www.handcrafted.org.uk/contact/
... Closes at noon on 30th November 2018
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You don't need to be a genius to come along to our quiz night because there will be something for everyone with hot food, fun quiz rounds, and good company.
Details are on our event page: https://www.facebook.com/events/478224086 005170/
Please let us know if you plan to be there so we can cater for everyone.

Happy campers! All the best to these guys who are brave enough to be taking the Extreme Character Challenge in Wales this weekend. Stay safe and keep smiling! #4muk #xcc

We were proud seeing one of our Gateshead trainees speaking in public about his experience of Hate Crime at an event organised by Gateshead Council and Northumbria Police yesterday.
“At first I was shy, but I was alright then; I had confidence to go up and tell everything to the group what’s happened to us”.
Building confidence comes naturally as trainees become part of the Handcrafted family and discover they have something to give.
... Stephen has been coming along for a few months now and it’s been awesome how he's grown in confidence. He loves helping anyone in the workshop wherever he can. At the moment Stephen is working on a draughts board and half the workshop is helping him make it as they all appreciate how much he’s done for them.
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Fingers on buzzers! We're having a quiz night on the 10th November. https://www.facebook.com/events/478224086 005170/

An award for Overcoming Adversity. Hurray! Thank you, Green Pastures ... this summarises what we hope to do throughout our work. Everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle.

You don't have to be a genius to come along to our quiz night, It will be fun, with something for everyone. Hot food is included in the £5 ticket, and all the proceeds will go to making a hope and a future for those who need us the most.

Today is World Mental Health Day. In fact, this week is also Mental Illness Awareness Week. Mental illness affects all of us, because we experience it directly or are close to somebody who does. Our trainees agree: talking to somebody really helps.
"Before I started with Handcrafted, my mental health was on the floor. Having people to talk to has been massive and I have learned not to stress about things on my own. Tell someone!" (Graham)
This ready advice comes from people ...who know, first-hand, what they are talking about but still get along to the workshop almost every day. We are grateful that they didn't just keep it to themselves
"When you have dark days, you think there's no end. Dig deep. Keep going. Tell someone. Don't shut yourself away. When I have told others, they have supported, not judged. Take one day at a time." (Paul)
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We're convinced you have something to give, whoever you are and regardless of your past. So we're proud when our trainees demonstrate this with a willingness to step in for others who through illness or personal difficulties need a bit of help. Here some of our trainees are redecorating a living room today so that a friend of the charity has one less thing to worry about while they cope with much bigger stuff.

Proud to see one of our custom cajons going on tour with Harri Endersby. All the best, Harri! Go and sing the world a better place :-)

The proud moment when our Soap Box Racer took its place among the panoply of competitors at Herrington Park last month in the UK Soapbox Events Challenge. Read all about it in our latest blog post http://handcrafted.org.uk/downhill-all-th e-way-at-the-nort…/

Having pioneered the Gateshead workshop, two-wheeler wizard Greg is heading in a new direction. It's not a 'goodbye', as he's promised to show up from time to time, but we wish him all the best in the future. Greg says he has especially proud memories of building wishing wells with the lads and that he'll miss the little team he's built up here. "I'll miss the banter and the crazy projects."
This place would not have become what it is without him. Thank you, Greg!

Happy Birthday, Andy! Today is special for one of our trainees: "It's the first time I've been out of prison on my birthday in the last 26 years. This is the best place to be celebrating it where I can stay away from the drink and be with friends and people who care."

Met some wonderful people, bought some lovely gifts too! And I was lucky enough to win a lovely dolls house in the last raffle!

Bought an amazing mini wooden Christmas tree at the recent Handcrafted Christmas market - great value, well made and always gets compliments from all who see it! (Plus these guys barbecue in December - has to be worth 5 stars)

Amazing products! Love my egg stand and so beautifully made, also love the phone speakers!! Amazing! Thank you!!

Absolutely wonderful, the people are so lovely, the atmosphere is great & the freedom & calmness of the place were exactly what we needed, thank you so much for your welcoming attitude where so many have turned us away