This November and December, we’ve been out in the community delivering festive upcycling workshops in local schools, where children — and their families — transformed pre-loved jumpers into one-of-a-kind Christmas masterpieces.
These workshops were about more than just creating something fun to wear — they were about creativity, confidence, and connection. Many of the children and parents had never tried upcycling or sewing before, but by the end of each session, everyone had made something they were genuinely proud of. One parent, who arrived saying she was “rubbish” at this sort of thing, was confidently helping her son sew beads and pom pom to their jumper by the end of the workshop, even saying she felt confident enough to tackle tasks like sewing buttons onto school uniforms in the future.
Parents loved the opportunity to slow down and enjoy a positive, creative Christmas activity with their children — no cost, no pressure, just time together. By inviting parents and siblings to join, the workshops created shared moments and happy memories. This was particularly meaningful at Eaton Hall Specialist Academy, a residential school supporting boys with social, emotional, and mental health difficulties. For many families, time together is limited, so the workshop offered a rare and special chance to connect through creativity.
Here’s what the Senior Childcare Officer at Eaton Hall had to say:
“The level of engagement from the children and their families was incredible, and everyone thoroughly enjoyed the activity. It gave children a really positive way to connect with their families and helped strengthen those relationships. The staff running the workshop were amazing and connected so well with both the children and parents. It was such a lovely experience — and one I really hope we can repeat.”
Alongside the creativity, families also learned about sustainable fashion — simple ways to reuse and upcycle clothing, and how choosing pre-loved can be both practical and positive. We also gave families the chance to take home some free children’s clothing, showing that second-hand doesn’t have to mean second-best. A huge thanks to the Warburtons Community Grant for making these amazing workshops possible.
