Happy New Year! I hope your Christmas break went well and you managed to get to do all the things you wanted to do, especially relaxing and enjoying yourself. This is a difficult time of year, not least because of the short days and cold weather, but hopefully this newsletter will remind you of the wonderful things you are a part of.  In addition to the list of what we did in December there’s also summary of the impact we made during 2022. Be proud and look forward to our new adventures in 2023.

The last month in summary:

  • 35 Christmas stockings and a carload of toys, mostly from The Barn, delivered to Spirit of Christmas.
  • 7 hats and 8 scarves to North Yorkshire Horizons
  • 6 draught excluders to Selby Foodbank
  • 10 syringe driver bags to St. Leonard’s Hospice
  • 29 hats, 16 scarves, 9 draught excluders and 7 hot water bottle covers to Selby District foodbank
  • Collected a big trolley load of toys from Morrisons, Wetherby, to go to Spirit of Christmas.
  • Toys and selection boxes of Chocolates from Wetherby Morrisons given to The Barn to support a local family in need
  • 62 matching sets of hearts & drain bags sent to St James’ hospital breast unit
  • 3 blankets, 1 hat and 1 scarf to Martin House
  • 15 banana box bags, and a huge trolley load of toys from Wetherby Morrisons to Spirit of Christmas
  • Featured in an article in the Selby Times
  • 20 syringe driver bags to St. Leonard’s Hospice
  • 7 Twiddlemuffs and 5 blankets to Age UK

 News

Impact summary. As 2022 has now drawn to a close I’ve been able to review everything we have done in the last 12 months to give you an idea of what we have achieved together. It’s something positive and heart-warming for a gloomy time of year. We have made roughly 3000 items, worth around £23,000, which we gave to over 23 different worthy causes as well as engaging in other activities to support our local businesses and community. As well as the facts and figures, please take the time to have a look at some of the fabulous things people have said about our work and how appreciative they are.

Thank you to everyone who has supported us during 2023, in whatever way that might be, from

  • the people who have used their skills to make the fabulous items that we give away,
  • those that have given their time to care for the green spaces and look after the bees in our community,
  • the people who have donated items for our tombola stalls,
  • the organisations and people who have donated fabrics and wood etc that we have used, including Vanilla Interiors and Elaine Johnson Interiors
  • the organisations and people who have helped to fund our activities including Jane Sanderson, Magic Little Grants and Power to Change,
  • those that have shared our posts and story including most of the presenters at Radio York,
  • the people who have advised and guided us in our adventures including, but not exclusively, Andy Gowdy and Pricilla Smith with the bees, Nick Atherton and Dan Carne with the gardening, Issy Sanderson and the Yorkits team, and of course David Gluck and Kirsty Poskitt at The Barn.
  • In particular, I would like to thank our team leaders and directors, Lynne Howard, Sandra Levitt, Sue Tennant, Sara Gott, and Karen Packham

we couldn’t have done all this without you!

We’d appreciate some feedback on what you think about us so if you have a moment to spare, please complete this 2 minute survey: https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/3YRMCGD  If you have anything more to add please email us with your comments to tadcrafters@outlook.com

We are desperately short of space to store donated fabrics, wool, haberdashery, and crafting materials that have been donated, somewhere to sort and use them, and possibly be run more crafting workshops. If you know of a local company who might be willing to support us with storage and workspace, or financially to find space as part of their Corporate Social Responsibility, please put me in touch with the right person to speak to or ask them to contact me.  This would make a massive difference to what we could achieve.

Please have a look at the calendar and make a note of the year’s workshops in your new 2023 diary, but also make sure to look out for any changes in the monthly newsletters nearer the time as events do get added and changed.

In the media. In addition to the December feature about us in the Selby Times, look out for an article in the York Your Local Link publication who have also contacted us about wanting to write an article for their February edition.

Coming up in 2023.

We have funding from Local Giving’s Magic Little Grants to support refugees living locally.  A while back we loaned an industrial sewing machine and donated loads of fabric, thread and haberdashery to a Ukrainian lady, and we have some sewing workshops to support Afghan refugees in Sherburn.

In conjunction with The Barn we have been working on two arts projects, funded by Selby district council, which will involve lots of Tadcaster residents.  Details on both are yet to be finalised but they both look really exciting.

Most exciting of all, we are hoping to lead on an initiative to support the community to make the most from local resources, produce less waste and raise awareness about how we can all help the environment- pretty much the kind of thing that we are doing already. We have lots of amazing ideas and plans on how we can do this but will need plenty of volunteers, participants, suitable space and funding to do everything we want. We are only in the early stages of the project at the moment so will start small and see how we progress.

-Su

 

TadCrafters Tadcaster Group Update

Our draught excluders appear to have been very popular at the local food bank and on our tombola stall. If you or a neighbour have a draughty doorway just let us know by email or at the next drop-in session if you would like one. There is plenty of lovely fabric to choose from to suit any interior. Just come along with your measurements, it is important to keep warm this winter and save on those energy bills. They will be free, but donations are always welcome from those who can afford it.

Yorkits. Weekly sessions at All Saints Church Hall, in Poppleton will resume on Wednesday 11th January at 9.45 to 12.00. The next monthly Saturday workshop will be at Manor Academy Poppleton on 28th January 10.00 to 12.00. The Big Workshop at York Minster will be on 8th March, which is International Women’s day (also Yorkits 10th birthday and Tadcrafters 7th birthday).  More details on how to book for this event will follow nearer the time.

The next Tadcaster drop-in session will be on Tuesday 10th January 10am- 3pm

Please note the change to the February date which will be Tuesday 7th, at The Barn.

For a full list of all our current projects and where to find instructions please see the list towards the end of this newsletter.

–

 

TadGrafters Wood-working Group Update

Throughout 2022 The Grafters kindly supported the beekeepers by cleaning and repairing boxes and frames as well as building a new brood box and super, with all the frames for the hives. They have made a few hedgehog lodges which are awaiting homes plus they are well on the way to making a large bug hotel for the Quaker Burial Ground, but the big project was dismantling and reinstating the ramp at the Barn.

The Grafters are next due to meet on Weds 11th January 1-3pm at The Barn.NB the change to the February date which is now Weds 8th at The Barn. Visitors and new group members, as always are very welcome.

The team are continuing to work on creating a huge bug hotel to be installed up at the Quaker Burial Ground. If you would like to contribute any fir cones, bamboo canes or sticks etc please bring them down to the next session.

 

Gardening Group update

Throughout 2022 the group kept the Quaker Brial Ground tidy and kept the newly planted apples trees alive despite the hot weather plus they continued to help maintain the Pond and Beyond area of Tadcaster Primary Academy. In 2023 they hope to link up with local experts and historians to investigate the history of the QBG site.

The Gardening group are having a rest over the winter months.  If you wish to be informed of any last minute arrangements, make sure you ask to be put on the gardening mailing list.

 

Beekeeping Group Update

The bees, and therefore the beekeeping group are having a rest over the winter months too. .  If you would like the opportunity of going up to see the bees, either just through the window or getting up close and all suited up, please get in touch. If you wish to be informed of any last-minute arrangements or have a good chance of getting any honey next year, make sure you ask to be put on the beekeeping mailing list. All 2022’s honey has now been sold. 

 

Sherburn Crafters Update

Karen would like to wish everyone in the Sherburn Group a Merry Christmas, thank you for your support and welcome you to the first meeting of 2023 on Thursday 26th January from 11am to 1pm at Sherburn Old Girls School.

List of Current TadCrafters projects 

We welcome anyone new who would like to join us but ask you to please stick to our current projects as other items can be hard to find homes for. We need to focus on a few projects at a time so we can support everyone, maintain our standards and supply items that are wanted by worthy causes, in appropriate quantities.  We are able to supply materials locally for free at our drop-in sessions and instructions are provided by email or by links if provided below; if you need help, please ask!

Sewing– supplied in kit form at the drop-off sessions

  • Red, white and blue bunting for the coronation
  • Draught excluders (workshop sessions only deadline January),
  • Personal effects bags for hospice patients and bereaved families at St. Leonard’s and St. Gemma’s
  • Syringe driver bags for hospitals and hospices
  • Drawstring book bags for the Banana box toy project (please see updated instructions)
  • Liners, shields and drawstring bags for YorKits feminine hygiene kits
  • Heart-shaped cushions and drain bags for breast surgery patients
  • Tombola items

Knitting/crochet– yarn and needles available at the drop-off sessions

  • Hot water bottle covers (deadline January drop-in session),
  • Hat and scarf/gloves sets (deadline January drop-in session), for foodbanks, Community Bees, NY Horizons
  • Tombola prizes
  • Twiddlemuffs for people living with dementia. (NB no metal parts, and ideally have tape for a name to be added and a Tadcrafters label.)  https://www.qvh.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/Twiddlemuffs-knitting-instructions.pdf
  • Blankets (larger sizes between 3 x 4 to 5 x 8 feet) for Martin House Children’s Hospice
  • Blankets (medium sizes 2 x 2 feet to 3 x 4 feet) for Community Bees, Age UK
  • Shawls/wraps, any design for York Hospital, Community Bees, Age UK
  • No baby clothes for the time being please

Other projects

  • If you can’t knit or sew there are non-sewing tasks such as threading drawstrings and decorating twiddlemuffs that are really useful to the team, please ask.
  • Picking-up/dropping-off supplies for people who are unable to make the sessions. Team up with someone who cannot drive or has other commitments on session days.
  • Join our woodwork, gardening, or bee-keeping groups.

Wish list and other ways to help

A huge thank you to the many people who have donated many, many things to us and have kept us going. If you have some surplus that you would like donate to us please be aware that we are really short of storage space so please try to stick as close as possible to our wish list, or speak to us first. Donations can be made at The Barn, ideally at one of the Tuesday drop-in sessions.

  • New or clean, nearly new polyester/cotton or other lightweight woven fabric
  • New or nearly new knitting yarn. Any colour or weight but double knitting would be great.
  • Items, especially hand-crafted ones, suitable for our tombola stalls
  • New or clean, nearly new winceyette (brushed cotton) sheets/fabric
  • “Gently worn” bras and new pants for “Smalls for All” http://smallsforall.org/
  • Vintage fabric, equipment and haberdashery (see below)

*Any items not suitable or surplus to our own use we sell to people who really appreciate them, whilst also raising funds for our projects.

Keep in touch

If you need to get in touch with us, and need a response, please use email. This is to protect your personal details and because messages and conversations on social media become lost. Someone will get back to you but it might not be straight away due to other commitments. The Tadcrafters Chat Group or Sherburn Tadcrafters Chat Group is a great way to keep in touch with other Tadcrafters and be inspired. You can also follow the Tadcrafters Page on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram (@Tadcrafters). 

To be put on the emailing list/s (wherever you live) please request it by emailing tadcrafters@outlook.com  and add us to your list of contacts so we don’t end up in your junk. There are usually only one or two emails a month.

If you would like to be kept up to date about any of the specific group activities please email us and ask to be put on the relevant group mailing list and your email will be forwarded to the group leader.

See you soon, Su.

Directors Tadcrafters CIC: Su Morgan, Lynne Howard Sandra Levitt and Sue Tennant

Calendar 2023

DateEventTimeLocation
Tues 10th JanDrop-in workshop10am- 3pmThe Barn, Tadcaster
Weds 11th JanTadGrafters1-3pmThe Barn, Tadcaster
Thurs 26th JanSherburn Crafters11-1pmSherburn Old Girls School
Sat 28th JanYorkits10-12pmManor Academy, York
Tues 7th Feb*Drop-in workshop10am- 3pmThe Barn, Tadcaster
Weds 8th Feb*TadGrafters1-3pmThe Barn, Tadcaster
Thurs 23rd FebSherburn Crafters11-1pmSherburn Old Girls School
Weds 8th MarYorkits big workshopTBCYork Minster
Tues 14th MarDrop-in workshop10am- 3pmThe Barn, Tadcaster
Weds 15th MarTadGrafters1-3pmThe Barn, Tadcaster
Thurs 23rd MarSherburn Crafters11-1pmSherburn Old Girls School
Tues 18th Apr*Drop-in workshop10am- 3pmThe Barn, Tadcaster
Weds 19th Apr*TadGrafters1-3pmThe Barn, Tadcaster
Thurs 27th AprSherburn Crafters11-1pmSherburn Old Girls School
Tues 9th MayDrop-in workshop10am- 3pmThe Barn, Tadcaster
Weds 10th MayTadGrafters1-3pmThe Barn, Tadcaster
Thurs 25th  MaySherburn Crafters11-1pmSherburn Old Girls School
Tues 13th JunDrop-in workshop10am- 3pmThe Barn, Tadcaster
Weds14th JunTadGrafters1-3pmThe Barn, Tadcaster
Thurs 22nd JunSherburn Crafters11-1pmSherburn Old Girls School
Tues 11th JulDrop-in workshop10am- 3pmThe Barn, Tadcaster
Weds 12th JulTadGrafters1-3pmThe Barn, Tadcaster
Thurs 27th Jul*Sherburn Crafters11-1pmSherburn Old Girls School TBC
Tues 8th AugDrop-in workshop10am- 3pmTBC*
Weds 9th AugTadGrafters1-3pmTBC*
Thurs 24th Aug*Sherburn Crafters11-1pmSherburn Old Girls School TBC
Tues 12th SepDrop-in workshop10am- 3pmThe Barn, Tadcaster
Weds 13th SeptTadGrafters1-3pmThe Barn, Tadcaster
Thurs 28th  SeptSherburn Crafters11-1pmSherburn Old Girls School
Tues 10th OctDrop-in workshop10am- 3pmThe Barn, Tadcaster
Weds11th OctTadGrafters1-3pmThe Barn, Tadcaster
Thurs 26th  OctSherburn Crafters11-1pmSherburn Old Girls School
Tues 14th NovDrop-in workshop10am- 3pmThe Barn, Tadcaster
Weds 15th NovTadGrafters1-3pmThe Barn, Tadcaster
Thurs 23rd  NovSherburn Crafters11-1pmSherburn Old Girls School
Tues 12th DecDrop-in workshop10am- 3pmThe Barn, Tadcaster
Weds 13th DecTadGrafters1-3pmThe Barn, Tadcaster
Thurs 28th DecSherburn Crafters11-1pmSherburn Old Girls School TBC*