Cambridge Sewing Charity Secures £205K Grant to Boost Mental Health

Sew Positive, a charity based in Cambridge, just got a huge boost—a £205,000 grant from the National Lottery. Honestly, that’s a game-changer for them and, frankly, for the local community too.

The charity, founded by Melissa Santiago-Val, supports people through creative crafts. It’s become a real lifeline for folks dealing with social isolation and mental health struggles.

With the grant, Sew Positive will finally secure a permanent base on Gwydir Street, just off Mill Road. Right now, that’s where almost all their services happen anyway, so it just makes sense.

So, what’s this all mean? Let’s dig into how the funding could shape the charity’s programs and maybe even the wider community’s well-being.

The Significance of the National Lottery Grant

The National Lottery’s Reaching Communities scheme has given Sew Positive a three-year grant. That’s a big nod to how much good the charity’s already doing.

Now, with this funding, they can set up shop in a permanent space and keep their mission going strong. Melissa Santiago-Val, who started the charity, called the grant a *massive change*—and after just five years, it really is.

Programs Benefiting from the Grant

The money will go towards three main programs:

• Men’s Hems: This one’s all about getting men into sewing and crafts, building a sense of community, and giving guys a safe spot to talk mental health.
• Sewcialise Good Mood Cafe: A participant-led space for crafts, socializing, and, honestly, just feeling a bit better.
• K2Tog Peer Support: A knitting group where people can support each other and open up about what they’re going through.

Each program gives people a place to express themselves and fight off that feeling of being alone. It’s creative, it’s led by participants, and, in my opinion, it’s pretty special.

The Impact of Crafts on Mental Health

Sew Positive is built on the idea that sewing and creativity can really help your state of mind. Melissa Santiago-Val and a friend started it after seeing firsthand how much crafts can help.

Cambridge, as Santiago-Val puts it, is *one of the most unequal cities in the UK*. There’s a lot of trauma and deprivation here. The charity tries to give people a break from all that, even just for a bit.

Personal Stories of Transformation

Julie Smith, who joined Sew Positive, talked about how knitting helped her get through loneliness. After leaving her job for personal reasons, her self-esteem took a hit, so she picked up knitting as a project.

She found comfort in the charity’s knitting groups and felt *welcomed and accepted*. That sense of community and creativity made a real difference for her.

Adam Cleevely got involved with the Men’s Hems program and even started his own knitting group. He describes the crafting environment as *empowering*—a place where people can actually talk about what’s on their minds.

He pointed out how side-by-side crafting makes it easier to open up. Sometimes, it’s just easier to talk when your hands are busy.

Community Health and Well-Being

Sew Positive’s impact doesn’t stop with individuals. Pam Green, director of Neighbourhood Health & Partnerships for Cambridgeshire and Peterborough, Central East Integrated Care Board, stressed how important community-based support is.

She said charities like Sew Positive offer a different kind of help—one that can be just as powerful as formal mental health services. For some people, especially those put off by institutional care, this community approach is the best way forward.

Breaking the Stigma Around Mental Health

Stigma is still a huge barrier for people needing mental health support. Sew Positive’s mix of crafts and mental health help gives people a way in that doesn’t feel official or intimidating.

By making the environment welcoming and creative, the charity encourages folks to take that first step. Sometimes, that’s all it takes to keep things from getting worse.

The Future of Sew Positive

With this National Lottery grant, Sew Positive is set to reach even more people and make a bigger impact. Their new permanent base on Gwydir Street means stability and consistency for their programs.

Melissa Santiago-Val wants to keep building creative, participant-led spaces that boost community, confidence, and mental well-being. If you ask me, that’s a vision worth rooting for.

Sew Positive started as a small charity. It’s grown into a real community resource, and that’s honestly pretty amazing.

Creativity and community can do a lot for mental health and fighting social isolation. The National Lottery grant marks a big step for them—it’ll help Sew Positive keep going and maybe even reach more people.

More folks are discovering how crafts can help with well-being. I have a feeling Sew Positive’s influence will only get bigger, especially around Cambridge.

Curious to know more? You can read the full article on the BBC News website.