July's Community Stories

Let’s Get Crafty Group - Willenhall

Let's Get Crafty is a community project in Willenhall. The group has successfully secured funding for a two-year project with a £12,000 grant from the National Lottery following support from the Community Resilience Team. The grant will help to secure regular venue hire, will provide quality craft supplies, and enables the group to hire skilled demonstrators to lead creative workshops.

The Let's Get Crafty group brings together women through shared interests in crafts and design. Through crafting activities, the group facilitates social inclusion for participants, encourages new friendships and builds peer support networks, helps individuals experiencing social isolation and mental health challenges, and encourages personal growth by developing new skills and confidence. It's hoped the project will act as a model for replication in other communities across Coventry.

To find out more about the Let's Get Crafty Group in Willenhall, please e-mail Sandra on saniherron@gmail.com

Autism and ADHD Advocates CIC receive £20,000 from the National Lottery

Sarah-Jane, who runs the Autism and ADHD Advocates CIC, has secured £20,000 through The National Lottery Awards for All programme with the support of the Community Resilience Team.

Autism and ADHD Advocates supports people awaiting a diagnosis, those who have a diagnosis and anyone supporting someone in either circumstance. They also offer support for professionals or anyone likely to work with those with Autism, ADHD and/or other types of neurodiversity. This grant has meant Sarah can employ someone to support her run the organisation, which operates out of Family Hubs, Schools and online.

https://www.autismadhdadvocates.org/what-s-on/

The project involves travelling to schools nationwide to provide interactive workshops during school hours, ensuring that every student can learn about these neurodevelopmental conditions. The hope is students will have a clearer understanding of Autism and ADHD; leading to greater acceptance and support for neurodiverse peers as well as prevention of future issues such as substance abuse; gambling; and mental health crises associated with undiagnosed or misunderstood neurodevelopmental conditions.

If you are a school, community group, or business interested in learning more, please contact Sarah: sarahjane@autismadhdadvocates.org