We are a registered Community Interest Company and we are here to provide benefits to adults and children who have limited access to culture, heritage, arts and crafts with particular focus on those displaced by conflicts and those with learning and communication difficulties.
Our programmes
Our programme of free activities delivered by experienced and passionate educators supports the national curriculum and development of fine motor skills, coordination as well as communication and social skills. It promotes repair skills and sustainable use of materials.
Our community integration programme brings people together and offer them a chance to share knowledge, skills, and common interests. This celebration of cultures and traditions promotes inclusion, cohesion, mental health and well-being providing community support and interaction between those who need it the most.
Our team
Magdalena Glowacka - Director and Founder
Head of Curating and Participation
Magdalena is a curator and educator with many years of experience in the Creative Arts sector. Fashion and Theatre work developed her vast knowledge of textiles and installation art. She has a degree in Fashion Design and has recently completed her MA in Museum and Gallery studies at Kingston School of Art. She has two sons, her eldest was diagnosed with autism and sensory processing disorder. During her maternity years Magdalena spent time learning Art Therapy with a focus on non-verbal communication. She is very passionate about using creativity to connect with people and unlock their potential.
Aga Dennis - Director
Head of Impact and Learning
Aga is an evaluation and impact expert. She has been working for various charities in the UK, including Leonard Cheshire and Mencap, where she gained knowledge in how to make a difference to people’s lives, and most importantly how to create an inclusive environment for people to grow and realise their potential. She is also a qualified teacher with a background in adult education, an EMCC certified Coach and a trainee counsellor experienced in the field of neurodiversity. Her therapy utilises art and free play to facilitate personal change.
Jadwiga Michalska - Director
Head of Media and Events
Jadwiga is a passionate media professional with extensive experience in TV production. After graduating with a degree in Media and Sociology from Goldsmiths she embarked on a career path as a TV producer, with credits including Channel 5, Netflix, Apple TV + and History Channel. In her work she has learnt how to deal with sensitive subjects by interviewing vulnerable people and visiting places on the margins of society. She is very committed to telling human stories and helping others to express their views.
Our advisors
Alicja Rucinska
Textiles and Sustainability
Alicja studied cross-cultural social psychology with a focus on culture informed approaches to mental health. She later earned M.Sc. with distinction in medical anthropology conducting field research on illness narratives in traditional Tibetan medicine. She is a mother of two amazing girls with special needs, who everyday teach her to look further and feel deeper. Alicja is passionate about natural fibres and textiles, exploring the link between fibre, sustainability and wellbeing. She conceptualised and now manages the flax growing project in Kingston upon Thames.
Kavya Sharma
Traditional Crafts and Well-being
Kavya is an interdisciplinary designer with a Bachelor's Degree in Craft Design specialising in Textile as well as a Master's Degree in Sustainable Design. She has experience working on various traditional craft practices within the diminishing generational arts and crafts from the rural and tribal communities of India. She has participated in training women from underprivileged communities with various craft and design skills to help them build their livelihood. Focusing on community engagement, her recent work is inspired by the Craftivism Movement that explores arts and crafts as a form of self-expression, communication, and story-telling for the people. She has worked as a well-being coordinator in a dementia specialist care home, facilitating a variety of art, craft, music, and play-based activities to support the mental, emotional, and physical needs of various residents. She also works with the Crafts Council on the Young Advisory Panel to make the craft sector more accessible for younger people.
Paul Henry
Historical Textiles and Fibres
Paul Henry is a renowned fibre consultant and educator who promotes the art of flax cultivation and spinning. He works as a demonstrator and advisor for the Weald and Downland Living Museum and extensively in primary schools in East London, teaching children about growing, processing, and spinning flax. His efforts are part of a broader initiative to introduce children to gardening and the origins of their food. He is an advocate for heritage crafts and frequently participates in events and demonstrations to share his skills and knowledge. His expertise covers wool spinning, natural dyeing techniques and kilt making. Paul’s dedication to his craft and commitment to educating future generations helps reconnect people with the origins of their clothing and textiles, inspiring many to appreciate traditional crafts and learn sustainable practices.
Our Supporters and Partners