Rise and Craft: Reclaiming Creative Space for Young Mothers in Blackburn

Rise and Craft was born from a deeply personal place. As a young mother, I know how hard it is to make time for yourself — let alone time to be creative, reflect, or just breathe. With so many responsibilities to juggle, doing something just for you can feel like a distant luxury. That’s exactly why I created this project: to provide young mothers in Blackburn with a space that prioritises them, their creativity, and their well-being.

With the support of an Arts Council England grant, I was able to shape Rise and Craft into a workshop series specifically tailored for young mothers — a group often forgotten or excluded from arts and wellbeing spaces. The funding allowed me to remove barriers to participation and offer high-quality creative experiences without cost or pressure.

I held the workshops locally at Blackburn Museum and Art Gallery, RF Café, and The Making Rooms — three venues within walking distance of each other in the heart of Blackburn. This was intentional: accessibility was key. I wanted it to be realistic for busy mothers to attend without complicated travel or logistics.

Throughout the programme, participants explored a rich variety of creative practices, including:

• Pottery workshops in collaboration with ceramicist Kim Stuttard

• Leather crafting with Jason and Louise Stocks Young from Diamond Awl

• Relaxed, social Sip and Paint sessions

• Embroidery

• Loom weaving

• Textured painting

Each session was carefully designed to be welcoming, beginner-friendly, and empowering — allowing participants to try something new without the pressure of perfection or productivity.

One question I was frequently asked was:
“Can I bring my toddler along?”

As much as I understand how tricky childcare can be — and as much as I empathised — I had to make it clear that these sessions were child-free and women-only. This wasn’t about exclusion. It was about intention.

When you’re a mother, your focus is often pulled in every direction — and bringing your child into a space means you’re still in that mode, still "on." The whole purpose of Rise and Craft was to give women the chance to make space just for themselves, without distractions, guilt, or split attention. And this, I found, is incredibly important. Many mothers told me it was the first time in years they had done something alone, for themselves — and it made a lasting impact.

At the end of the workshops, every participant rated their experience a perfect 10 out of 10 — with no suggestions for improvement. The overwhelming feedback was a heartfelt plea: “Please never stop these workshops — they’re exactly what we needed.”

This response inspires me deeply. I hope to secure further funding so these workshops can continue, reaching even more young mothers who deserve this time and space for creativity and self-care.

I’m so proud of what this project has become — not just a series of creative workshops, but a space for reconnection, confidence-building, and personal expression.

To the women who showed up, made time, and embraced the creative process — thank you. And to every mother out there who’s been told she has to wait for her turn to create, explore, or just exist for herself: Rise and Craft is for you.