Create and Chat Group raises an Amazing £1000 for CSY

The create and chat group (pictured, right): Christine Stephenson, Nicole Parker, Shelley Whiteley, Angela Oldfield, Veronica Browne, Barbara Friedbach & Christine Bryant, with a cheque for £1000.00 for Cancer Support Yorkshire!

“Create and Chat” is a weekly group which was formed in September 2017. A group of ladies met at the mindfulness course which ran at the centre for 8 weeks and each of them personally experienced the benefit of attending this course. They were able to get out of their own 4 walls, meet others in a similar situation and share an interchange of encouragement. When the course finished, they had built friendships and wanted to continue seeing one another regularly. They wanted to do something that would get more people into the centre and provide a welcome distraction to what they were individually going through. We listened to their needs and responded by providing a regular space for them to meet.

It was full steam ahead right from the beginning with various projects arranged based on the knowledge and interests of the ladies, who decided that they would like to create a self-sustaining group enabling them to buy equipment to explore new crafts, while helping to raise funds for, and spread awareness about Cancer Support Yorkshire. One of their first projects was flower arranging, and they have since tried a range of activities including sewing, knitting, jam making, cake decorating and other great seasonal projects. In a field where one was an expert and others weren’t, they were able to teach and share new skills with each other; everybody has contributed in their own way. In addition to coming to the group, the ladies have held awareness stalls and sales at various venues, including St. Luke’s hospital and Saltaire.

The ladies even went above and beyond by taking it upon themselves to make Christmas hampers for the cancer wards at the BRI hospital as a thank you to the staff teams. They also took centre leaflets along to raise awareness of the support we provide. These ladies truly are a bunch of innovative creators, who have a keen enthusiasm and desire to help others by generating awareness and working together with us in responding to local needs. We are very proud of all they have accomplished in a little over a year. All of them have given their best in order to support CSY.

Create and Chat set an initial goal of raising £1000.00 for CSY within a year, and we are so pleased to say that they have done it!!!

Create and chat is a peer led support group focused on welcoming new people to the centre, sharing, learning and creating. We encourage all to come along, whether you have a creative inclination or not. No need to be anxious, or an expert in anything by any means. Some weeks the ladies chat and laugh more than they create – sharing personal stories, and supporting each other along their respective journeys, and they always leave feeling uplifted and refreshed.

Well done ladies and thank you very much for all your support. We look forward to Creating and Chatting with you over the next year.

There are always new things going on and we would welcome you to call the Bradford Centre on 01274 776688 to enquire about any of our groups if you are interested in popping along.