Crafting to support mental health

I have something exciting to share.  One of the loveliest members of my team Sylvia Lawrence had a visit at her workplace from the Lord Mayor of Birmingham.  Sylvia supports people with Learning Disabilities and people with Mental Health issues and often uses her craft kits and supplies with the people she supports for relaxation and recreation.

The Mayor was very interested in her crafting to support mental health and mentioned that Prince Harry was visiting Birmingham the following week and she was sure that this is something very close to his heart in his work with the Heads Together Charity.

Sylvia makes beautiful craft things and often spends her free time in her beautiful craft cabin switching off from work.  In the summer she made a beautiful album to commemorate the wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle so she asked the Lord Mayor if she would present it to Prince Harry during his visit to Cannon Hill Park.  You can see Sylvia’s Wedding Album here…

They both got to talking about Stampin’ Up! and about the possibility of putting together a package of crafting supplies to pass on to the Duchess of Sussex.  It was all top secret until everything was checked and approved to be presented to Prince Harry.

Any follow up information was directed to me and my blog and I was asked to include catalogues, samples and a kit of products as well as an introductory letter.  I am so thankful to Sylvia and Sugar Wilkinson (her lovely sister) who organised the presentation of the package and gathered everything together to deliver to the Lord Mayor’s Office.

Sylvia and Sugar Wilkinson attended Cannon Hill Park on the Monday for the Duke’s visit and waited in the cold and rain to be close by when the presentation was made.  She even took a lovely video of the Lord Mayor waving to her with the Stampin’ Up! bag ready to present to Prince Harry.  Here is the video of Prince Harry receiving the Stampin’ Up goodies.

I just love how our shared love of crafting and Stampin’ Up! takes us to places and introduces us to people in all walks of life and how it makes a difference.

It reminds me of the mission statement of Stampin’ Up! called the Statement of the Heart…..
I hope that the Duchess loves the things that we sent to there and wouldn’t it be wonderful if Stampin’ Up! could impact the lives of more people with mental health issues and get more people being creative. I am so thankful for Stampin’ Up! and the difference it makes in the life of others.

I have witnessed first hand how important crafting can be.  It helps build a community, it can enable people to switch off from day-to-day pressures and turn negative thoughts or feelings into something positive.  Making handmade is good for the soul!  It is good for the person who is being creative and good for the recipient as who doesn’t love receiving something handmade and to know that someone cares enough to spend time making something creative just for you?

I am really lucky to know Sylvia Lawrence, she is a beautiful lady inside and out and I am thankful that Stampin’ Up has bought us together.  Please take a moment to look at her new blog and read her post about this wonderful opportunity.

And who knows, maybe the Duchess of Sussex will be making her own thank you cards in future?