Craft Club - A national campaign for craft in schools

On 8th January 2010, a new programme from The Crafts Council and UK Hand Knitting Association called Craft Club launched. The campaign aims to provide children and young people with the opportunity to learn craft skills from members of their community via free after-school clubs.

"The teaching of craft is variable in the UK, with some pupils receiving minimal opportunity to work in 3D due to cost, space and staff expertise. Craft Club has been developed to ensure that craft skills still have a rightful place in the classroom."

"Craft Club needs the support of schools and individual teachers and also relies on the enthusiasm and skills of the broader community in order to pass on craft skills and techniques to its participants, or ‘Craft Clubbers’. Volunteers will receive specialist training at workshops across the country and will then become involved in their local Craft Club. Each Craft Club can be run in its own way – either combining efforts to achieve a shared goal or working individually in the company of friends on solo projects." 

The first scheme for Craft Club is "Knit 1 Pass It On", which will focus on knitting and yarn crafts, enlisting the help of local knitting groups, WI members and all other enthusiastic knitters.

The Craft Club website will provide volunteers with access to teaching tools, practical tips and project ideas and Craft Clubbers with a forum to share patterns, ideas for projects and contact other like-minded Craft Clubbers across the country.

“Craft Club will engage young people with craft in a fun and informal setting and introduce them to members of their own community and provides the opportunity to be creative whilst socialising.” Rosy Greenlees, Executive Director, Crafts Council

The first Craft Clubs are planned to start in spring 2010 but people who are interested can register now on www.craftclub.org.uk