Interest in a pioneering project called Abergavenny Crafty Women has rocketed since it featured in an episode of the new BBC One daytime show ‘Street Auction’ two weeks ago.

Organiser Sue Jones, who is keen to thank all who helped set up the auction on filming day, said, “The response (to the programme) has been amazing, with people getting in touch and offering to help us fundraise.”

But there have also been calls to set up more Crafty Women groups in the area and Sue says that, at present, they simply don’t have enough volunteers to run them.

Crafty Women is a group of inventive creative women who get together on a Friday to develop new crafting skills and support each other through ‘the tough stuff life throws at us’.

They reuse, upcycle, create, share stories and enjoy the simple pleasures of crafting.

“We share our skills and give back support by running weekly workshops for women with additional needs,” Sue explained. “We also raise funds by selling our crafts at regular fundraising events around Abergavenny including the Eisteddfod.”

It all began in 2013 when Arts Alive worked in partnership with Monmouthshire Housing Association to set up a new creative crafts and textile group to respond to the health needs of MHA female tenants in Abergavenny and to improve their general well being.

Run for its first ten weeks by Arts Alive Wales artist Miranda Thomason, leadership was then handed over to project enabler and MHA tenant Sue.

With the support of both organisations, Sue and the members of Crafty Women have gone from strength to strength, organising their own fund-raising and working closely with other artists including Penny Turnbull on collaborative quilts and with photographer Toril Brancher who helped to document their inspiring progress. 

Crafty Women was short-listed for a Welsh Housing Award in 2013 and, at the end of that year, secured funding from Health Control through the Health Lottery to create new Crafty Women groups for women in North Abergavenny over the next two years.

More funding was awarded from the Health Lottery in 2015 which helped support the running costs of the second group. But the group are in need of sourcing funding by the end of this year, which they’re hoping to secure through various lottery projects and through continuing to run their regular market stall.

Following the airing of the Street Auction programme on October 5, however, the interest in the project has grown to such an extent that there are now calls to launch more Crafty Women groups for the local community and surrounding areas.

“The problem is we only have a small number of volunteers at present so we can’t fulfil this need,” said Sue.

“We’re really keen to hear from people who would like to get involved. By helping Crafty Women you could be provided with training and CV building for future job opportunities, along with the opportunity to make new friends and feel part of your local community - and make a real difference.”

The charity is also looking to appoint more trustees to its board and to attract more crafty women to the Friday sessions.

If you would like to find out more please contact Crafty Women on 07482938874 or email [email protected].

please also see Abergavenny Crafty Women Facebook page for updates and contact them via their messenger.