‘Meet and Make’ is a fantastic community arts project run by Peebles Old Parish Church in partnership with Red Button Arts. The project has been running since 2017 and is still going strong!Â
The purpose of the project is to relieve loneliness and isolation and improve health through creativity. The idea being that being creative, together with others, can really improve your physical and mental health. For the many people who live alone and have poor health, coming to a class and getting to know people, while making something new, will significantly improve their quality of life.
So what do we do?
Each month we take a crafting class to different assisted living venues in Peebles and Innerleithen, including Dovecot Court, Whitestone Court, Riverside House, Halyrude Court in Peebles, and Mercer Court in Innerleithen. In each class we try out new crafting skills and new materials, and everyone is able to take their own piece of artwork home with them. We have tried so many things over the years, including weaving, decoupage, printing, marbling, painting, and wreath making. Everyone enjoys seeing what we bring each time, and the table is always covered with different colours, textures, materials and tools. Sometimes we are also covered, especially when glue or paint is involved! There have been some beautiful things made in the classes and many people give their work away as presents.
There is a lot of chat, (we set the world straight!) and we finish the class with tea and cake, which is needed after an hour concentrating! Everyone feels more positive after the class and the world definitely seems a little brighter. People have got to know each other over the years and become firm friends, and it is a pleasure to meet and make something with them.
We have 4 wonderful volunteers who help with this project, who help people who might struggle a bit by themselves, and look after the refreshments. It would be great to have more people, so if you fancy popping along to see what we do, please contact the church office.