Our Story
We have a team of skilled, experienced, adaptable practitioners who provide accessible, hands-on craft and rural skills activities.
Our motivation is in Community-building and our key is Reciprocity: everyone needs to feel they have something to offer in order to truly engage. Our Workshops revolve around skill sharing, exchanging ideas and support between everyone: teachers, learners and our host organisations or venues alike. This is how a thriving community functions.
Where we can everything is made available at no cost to our participants and therefore open to all. We work with the often vulnerable in our society: those with disabilities, people with mental health problems, the lonely and isolated, boosting well-being and promoting positive interaction, as well as environmental understanding through recycling skills and traditional crafts. Everyone deserves a voice and has something to contribute.
Help us raise £2500 to provide nine free, healthy, creative, socially rewarding days in the Beacons, where Artists & Crafters will share their favourite spots for a walk, followed by a Craft Workshop, accompanied by coffee & cake.
Taking place over 9 weekends, those who sign up for the walks will begin at the first venue where a workshop will also be taking place, and walk to the next venue, where the following weekend, another crafting workshop will take place, and so on.
In total the project will provide - 9 Walks, 9 Workshops, and 9 Healthy Days, leading up to the 9 days of the Beacons Open Studies Crafts Trail, taking place between 17th – 25th June.
We know that walking is immensely beneficial for our wellbeing and for our mental and physical health. Creativity is equally important, providing opportunities to learn new skills, develop confidence and increase our cognitive skills.
Both walking and making are also inclusive and help combat isolation, by meeting friends both old and new!
It will also be the precursor to more walks and workshops during the Open Studios Crafts Trail, where we intend to provide information on how to reach each venue by bus, bicycle, foot & public transport, as well as publishing walk and cycle routes from one venue to the next.
We hope that you are inspired to help us all achieve our aims, and help facilitate events which encourage better health, social activities, and help communities thrive.
For more information about the Beacons Open Crafts Trail in June, you can contact emma@thebigskill.com or visit our website: https://www.thebigskill.com/beacons-craft-week-2023
Thank you for reading about our appeal – we hope we can also welcome you at one of our events!
Craft and Chat with Rosie Ramsey
We were excited to be asked by The National Lottery Community Fund in May 2021 to film a Craft and Chat session. With Rosie sitting at home and Bridget crafting in a field in Wales
Many thanks to all the National Lottery players who have helped us provide our free Craft and Chat sessions. Helping our community craft together during the Covid-19 pandemic.
To watch Bridget show Rosie how to transform her old t-shirt into a tote bag - click Rosie's picture!
Find out more about how to arrange a Big Skill Craft workshop or event in your community by emailing Emma our Events Co-ordinator. Or checking our Facebook Events page for in person or online Craft and Chat workshops.
Please Note: Some of the photographs on this site were taken at past workshops and festivals, which accounts for the lack of masks and social distancing. Read our COVID-Safe Event Guide
