Lynne McNeil reflects on the positive impact of autumn crafting.

AS the season changes and days grow shorter, many churches turn their minds to group projects and activities for the coming months.

Crafting can play a key role with simple projects identified to allow as many people as possible to take part. The focus can be set with particular services in mind – creation time, harvest, Remembrance or Advent – or for the benefit of an appeal or charity for causes such as homelessness, premature babies, dementia charities or any group or activity with links to the congregation.

Seeing the impact of work and hearing how much the effort is valued can serve as an encouragement to many to take part in a congregational project.

But it is not just congregations – there are many groups with a craft theme associated with churches who will see the change of season as an opportunity to launch new themes or projects.

Inspiration and supplies can be found at a series of craft fairs. One of the biggest events on the crafting calendar is due to take place in Glasgow next month. The Creative Craft Show returns to Glasgow SEC from October 24 to 27.

Visitors to the show will this year access three exhibitions for the price of one. Previously the Creative Craft Show had also offered access to a separate Christmasthemed exhibition, offering inspiration for another forthcoming change of season.

This year, for the first time, promoters are bringing a new exhibition – the Stitch Show – to offer a further dimension to the four-day extravaganza of crafting.

The three exhibitions – the Creative Craft Show, the Stitch Show and Simply Christmas, the Crafty Christmas Show, offers not just a range of exhibitors but classes and opportunities to try new things.

The showcase will be helpful to those seeking to organise seasonal crafting projects, but also to those looking for inspiration for new projects or initiatives or seeking to find new crafts that might appeal or assist in fundraising activities.

Autumn and the beginning of a new church year also brings plans to fruition for autumn and winter projects for church fayres and sales. Crafting plays a key part in drawing in visitors and raising much needed funds.

But fundraising and support is not always the primary reason for craft. Research has shown that crafting can improve mental health.

Perhaps the greatest example of a positive impact from creativity comes from CrossReach’s Heart for Art project which provides opportunities to take part in activity with someone living with dementia. Regular exhibitions of the artwork produced at Heart for Art projects take place across the country (there was one at the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland in May).

Regardless of ability, autumn offers an opportunity to try new things and build new connections through crafting.

Further information on Heart for Art can be found at https://www.crossreach.org.uk/our-locations/heart-for-art