Young people hold successful event for No Limits in Westquay

22nd February 2024

The young people in our Youth Fundraising and Communications Team ran a brilliant event in Westquay last week, raising money for No Limits.

The Valentine’s Craft Club ran for four hours in the middle of the day, offering shoppers the chance to learn how to crochet with volunteers from the University of Southampton Crochet Society, make a badge and design a Valentine’s card.

The young people also made craft items and wellbeing packs available for a donation to No Limits. Crocheted Valentine’s-themed items, kindly donated by the Crochet Society were a hit, raising over £100 alone with donations for items including crocheted roses and heart coasters.

Planning for the event started back in September, with the idea of holding an event focused around creativity and wellbeing. Taking part in creative activities has many benefits for our mental wellbeing and the group were keen to create a space where people could take time out of their day to do something nice for themselves, or someone else.

Making the most of our charity partnership with Westquay, the idea formed into holding a Valentine’s-themed Craft Club during half-term in the shopping centre. They then worked hard, creating posters for the event, asking local organisations for donations of items to raise money, creating worry worms and wellbeing tip cards, and writing a press release to send out the week before. There has been lots of great teamwork and new skills learnt for the young people along the way.

We’d like to say a huge thank you to the University of Southampton Crochet Society and John Hansard Gallery for their donation of items for the stall, as well as everyone who came down, got involved and donated, making the event a success for our young people.