Prime Highlights:
- Cambridge-based mental health charity Sew Positive receives a £205,000 National Lottery grant, marking a “turning point” for the charity’s growth.
- The funding will allow the charity to expand services and secure a permanent base, supporting programs like Men’s Hems, Sewcialise Good Mood Café, and K2Tog Peer Support.
Key Facts:
- The three-year grant supports craft-based programs that help people struggling with social isolation, inequality, and mental well-being.
- Participants report improved confidence, creativity, and social connection, highlighting the value of community-led mental health support.
Background:
A Cambridge-based mental health charity has secured £205,000 from the National Lottery, calling the award a “pivotal” moment in its five-year journey.
Sew Positive received the three-year grant through the National Lottery Community Fund under its Reaching Communities programme. The funding will allow the charity to establish a permanent base at Gwydir Street, off Mill Road, where it already delivers around 90% of its activities.
Founder Melissa Santiago-Val said the grant marks a major step forward for the small organisation. “As a small charity running for just five years, this is a massive change and a really pivotal point for us,” she said.
Sew Positive supports people facing social isolation, inequality and mental health challenges through craft-based activities. The new funding will be shared across three of its key programmes: Men’s Hems, the Sewcialise Good Mood Cafe, and K2Tog Peer Support. The charity said the money would help maintain “creative, participant-led spaces” that encourage connection and wellbeing.
Santiago-Val, who started the charity with a friend after discovering how sewing improved her own wellbeing, described Cambridge as one of the most unequal cities in the UK. She said many people who attend their sessions face trauma, deprivation and complex personal issues. At the same time, she noted that some participants have struggled to access traditional services.
“Social isolation is such a difficult thing to overcome,” she said. “If you can get people to come to an activity regularly, that can really change that.”
For some members, the impact has been life-changing. Julie Smith joined after she stopped working for personal reasons and began to feel lonely while knitting at home. She said the group made her feel welcomed and valued, and helped rebuild her confidence.
Adam Cleevely, who joined Men’s Hems and later set up a knitting group, said craft offers a gentle space for conversation. Sitting side by side makes it easier to open up, he said.
Pam Green from the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Integrated Care Board said community groups like Sew Positive often help people seek support early, reducing stigma and preventing problems from becoming severe.
