Funding from Kent Community Foundation will enable novice and experienced sewers to keep stitching.
Rochester based Sew In CIC received £2,000 from grant makers Kent Community Foundation from the Medway and Swale Community Chest Fund to support their ‘core costs’ including accounting, public liability insurance, venue hire and marketing costs. This funding has enabled Sew In to provide free and subsidised Sew Sessions, to more people in the community.
Sew In, was established by designer Naomi Benjamin in 2008 to promote sewing and dressmaking for creativity, sustainability and mental wellbeing in a safe space, where the community can get together, recharge and explore their creativity.
Sew In’s Founder Naomi Benjamin explains, “At The Sew In Group, our weekly Sew Sessions have blossomed into far more than just a sewing class. These gatherings have grown into a tight-knit community where participants not only nurture their creative skills but also support each other through personal challenges. The sessions have become a safe and inclusive space for attendees to share their experiences, find emotional support, and build meaningful connections.
Thanks to grants like the one from Kent Community Foundation, Our commitment to inclusivity ensures that financial barriers don’t stop anyone from participating, resulting in an incredibly diverse group of attendees who benefit both creatively and emotionally from their time spent with us.”
One powerful example of the impact Sew Sessions have had is the story of an attendee, who found more than just a creative outlet when they joined. In one of our workshops, they connected with another member who shared a similar health challenge, creating a meaningful bond and offering much-needed support. This shared experience provided them with a compassionate listener and a source of comfort, as they were able to bond over their journeys. Sewing, combined with this emotional support, has been incredibly beneficial for their mental wellbeing. It has helped them process difficult emotions while being surrounded by a community that listens and cares.
Naomi Benjamin continued, “What makes these sessions even more remarkable is how the support extends beyond the four walls of our studio. The sense of connection that has been fostered within the group has led attendees to create a WhatsApp group, allowing them to stay in touch, offer support, and share encouragement, both about personal experiences and their sewing projects. This group has become a lifeline for many, where advice is exchanged, triumphs are celebrated, and comfort is offered. It has become a space where participants can reach out for help or simply share in the joy of creating
something beautiful.”
Bruce Topham Grant Manager, Kent Community Foundation said, “The Sew In application for funding explained that their group has evolved into a platform where participants not only sharpen their sewing skills but also find solace in knowing they are not alone in their struggles. They told us that for many attendees, sewing is not just a hobby, it’s a therapeutic experience that has helped reduce stress and anxiety. Engaging in a creative process while being part of such a supportive community has provided them with a sense of accomplishment, connection, and purpose. The simple act of sewing, combined with the chance to talk and be heard, has had a profound impact on their mental wellbeing. Kent Community Foundation has five funding priorities and this application aligned well with the type of projects we want to fund.”
To contact Kent Community Foundation about funding for charities and community groups email admin@kentcf.org.uk or visit www.kentcf.org.uk/funding
About The Sew In Group CIC
The Sew In Group CIC, (previously known as Sew in Kent) was established in 2018 by designer and dressmaker Naomi Benjamin and became a not-for-profit social enterprise in May 2023.
Their aim is to promote the practice of sewing and dressmaking for creativity, sustainability and mental wellbeing in a safe space where the community can get together, recharge and explore their creativity.
www.thesewingroup.com/product-page/sew-sessions
About Kent Community Foundation
Experienced grant-maker Kent Community Foundation is the organisation behind the organisations and has been finding, funding, and supporting some of the smallest voluntary groups in the county for over twenty three years. In this time, it has distributed £60 million to support thousands of small charities and deserving causes where a modest sum of money can make a significant impact.
Kent Community Foundation is part of a UK wide accredited network of forty-seven Community Foundations who are committed to improving the lives of local people and communities, particularly the most vulnerable, isolated, and disadvantaged by matching those who want to help, with those who need the help.
Responsible for more than one hundred philanthropic funds, Kent Community Foundation is unrivalled in its knowledge of local causes and assists individuals, families, and businesses who want to help, to establish and administer their own charitable funds.
Kent Community Foundation funding priorities –
- Children, Young People & Families
Supporting disadvantaged children and young people’s physical and mental health, encouraging positive choices and staying safe. - Vulnerable Adults
Helping those who may need extra care dealing with challenging issues or those at risk of social exclusion or discrimination.
3. Elderly and Isolated
Enabling elderly adults to stay well, healthy, independent and free from social isolation.
4. Employability, Skills & Enterprise
Creating opportunities to develop skills and confidence and have a positive impact in areas and groups of people with high unemployment.
5. Environment
Encouraging community action to improve and protect local spaces with support sustainable ways of living.
