SWALLOW’S Craft Sales Project

SWALLOW’S Craft Groups make items for sale, including candles, lavender bags, papier mache bowls, mosaic coasters, greetings cards and pom-pom ornaments, organic cotton tea towels featuring members’ designs and soaps. The products are currently sold on the occasional market stall, annually at the Bath Christmas Market and through their online shop. Their aim is to reach much broader audiences who are searching for handmade craft items and in doing so raise the profile of the makers with learning disabilities, and have their work valued for its skill and quality.

As SWALLOW’S two Community Cafes are not fully utilised for craft sales they want to create a craft sales space in both cafes, that would change seasonally and to tie in with events such as Valentines Day and Mothers’ Day.

To promote their craft items, plants and hanging baskets (made by the Horticulture Group), celebration cakes for order, chutneys and pickles (made by the Cafes) they need to prepare a marketing brochure. This would be available in both cafes and be downloadable on their website.

To this end the Lodge donated £550 to cover the costs of purchasing the raw craft materials and the printing the brochure. Worshipful Master/Charity Steward W. Bro Chris James had the pleasure of presenting the cheque at their AGM held at The Hive Café, Peasedown St John on Thursday 21 May.