Craft for Calm

What is Craft for Calm?

Create and connect. Calm your mind. Raise vital funds.

Craft for Calm is a creative, flexible, and feel‑good fundraising challenge that invites people to use crafting to support Suffolk Mind.

Simply choose a craft challenge that suits you over a time period that feels like an achievable challenge.

From knitting a row every day or crocheting a square a day, to drawing, carving, sewing, painting, or journaling – ask your friends and family to sponsor their progress.

Whether crafting solo or hosting a Coffee & Craft style event at home, Craft for Calm is all about slowing down, doing something mindful, and turning your creativity into fundraising.

Click here to download your free Craft for Calm pack.

Set up your your giving page

Craft for Calm is a self‑set creative challenge.

You decide:

• What you’ll make
• How often you’ll craft (daily, weekly, or over a set period)
• How long the challenge will last (e.g. 7 days, 30 days, or a one‑off project)
• Or, you could organise and host a crafty event

Why Craft for Calm?

• Suitable for all ages, abilities, and budgets
• Set your own challenge
• Crafting can help you meet a lot of emotional needs including Achievement, Meaning and Purpose, Status, Community, Attention
• Connect with a hobby you currently do, one you’d like to learn, or a craft that gives nostalgia
• Go green and focus on sustainability
• It’s easy to involve friends, family, or a local community
• Every stitch, sketch, and cup of coffee helps raise funds

Craft for Calm meets you where you are, at the kitchen table, on the sofa, or around a tea pot with friends.

How to get started

Step 1: Choose your craft challenge (we’ve included loads of ideas below and in the downloadable pack)

Click here to download your free Craft for Calm pack.

Step 2: Set up your fundraising page

Create your online giving page and:

• Name your challenge
• set a timeline (e.g. 24 hours, a week, 30 days, summer holidays)
• Share why you’re taking part
• Set a fundraising target

Step 3: Spread the word

Tell people about your challenge:

• Share your fundraising page on social media
• Send messages or emails to friends and family
• Post progress photos or short updates

People love seeing the creative journey unfold.

Step 4: Craft for Calm

Start crafting! Share updates, celebrate milestones, and enjoy the process.

Planning a crafting party or event

One way to raise money for Suffolk Mind is to host a Coffee & Craft event at home or in a community space. (It could also be a Tea Party, Cola and Colouring, Prosecco and Pottery, Sip and Stitch – you get the idea!)

Ways to raise money at a Coffee & Craft event:

• Charge a ‘ticket’ fee (this could be donated to your giving page)
• Host a tutorial or demonstration
• Donations for drinks/ refreshments
• Host a mini raffle (the prize could be a voucher, craft materials, bubbly)
• Make up craft kits, sell them and donate the profit
• Ask your guests to sponsor your giving page

How to fundraise

Sponsorship

Ask people to:

• Sponsor you for the whole challenge
• Donate per day, per piece, or per milestone

Even small donations add up.

Tip: Share your fundraising page on your social media with some photos or video of your craft challenge for additional giving.

You can also sell your handmade items online or at a craft fair

Match funding & group challenges

• Ask your employer about match funding
• Take part as a group, club, or team
• Combine individual challenges into one shared total

Tips for fundraising success

• Set a clear, achievable goal (you can increase your target if you hit it early)
• Share your “why” – personal stories inspire generosity
• Post regular progress updates
• Thank your supporters as you go
• Don’t be afraid to remind people near the end of your challenge

How to set a fundraising goal

Sometimes it’s hard to know how much to try and fundraise. We value every £1 raised for Suffolk Mind.

£20 could answer ten calls to our 0300 Helpline

£55 could pay for a counselling session

£200 could fund our Helpline for a day

£330 could help someone access six counselling sessions

£500 could help us run our GreenCare allotment projects

Want to craft but not sure where to start?

We’ve had a look at the trending crafts for 2026:

• LEGO – flowers, buildings, towns, animals – let your imagination run wild
• Knit a scarf – do a row every day. Each row could be a colour that represents your mood, or the weather etc
• Crochet a blanket. A square a day to make a blanket for someone on their own, with dementia, a friend, or new baby
• Papier Mache – pumpkins, easter eggs, sculpture
• Wood carving – whittle a spoon or carve a whole chess set to then auction off
• Photo collage or scrapbooking
• Paint – create one dramatic piece or a portrait a day
• Try a different craft every week for the year or month, or try something new every day
• Stamps – carve a mini stamp from lino or rubber each day for 30 days
• Inktober style drawing challenge
• Christmas cards – make your own with potato printing or watercolour
• Christmas crafts  – popcorn tinsel, wreath making
• Pottery  – kiln fired or air dry clay
• Polymer clay
• Pottery painting party
• Metal work sculptures
• Basket weaving
• Build your own musical instrument

Click here to download your free Craft for Calm pack.

Set up your your giving page