TASWE delivered 100 craft bags to the Epping Forest Food Bank in the middle of December and we will shortly be preparing another 100 bags for delivery in July prior to the summer holidays.. The bags are intended for children identified at risk of food poverty, aged between 5 and 9 years old to give them some things to do and make over the Christmas holidays. Feedback tells us that the bags are enjoyed by the children and hopefully keep them happy and occupied over this busy season for adults. The website link can be found here.

A lot of members of TASWE get involved in this project, by donating materials or money, by developing activities to put in the bag, by photocopying various instruction sheets and of course by packing the bags at the final stage.  See photos in Gallery 1.

Our next craft bag preparation will be for the Christmas, and we are now thinking about suitable activities to include in the bags. Our volunteers enjoy being involved and it is rewarding when we hear that children have been excited to receive the bags and had some fun with them. 

Please contact Lis Goodwin (westessex@theartssociety.org) if you would like to find out about how you can get involved at any stage of the project. 

A local voluntary organisation, CDRC (Christian Drama Resource Centre), provides costumes to local schools for their productions and TASWE members have helped with sewing and knitting items for children to wear (World War II and Harry Potter), but also in such mundane tasks as sorting buttons.  We have also supported the Centre with donations to enable them to purchase some items. If you would like to get involved please contact Lis Goodwin.  There are all sorts of volunteering opportunities available: knitting, sewing, administration, preparing costumes for loan, and lots more.  If you would like to get involved, please contact Barbara Lane (westessex@theartssociety.org). 

Photos of all volunteering are in Gallery 1 on this website.