“The women at the Conversation Clubs have really enjoyed the workshops. We chatted about life, crafting and food (as usual!) as we happily needle-felted away, and found it very relaxing. We were also very proud of what we produced and look forward to going to see our work in the exhibition in Glastonbury.”
_{Nicola Haynes, English Tutor}

Artist Luan MacDonald has been travelling around Somerset, leading Spinning a Yarn workshops with groups of women at conversation clubs run by the Somerset Diverse Communities team at CCS. The conversation clubs aim to improve the language of women of diverse backgrounds, by providing them with an informal, safe setting where they can learn English and make new friends.

Creative sessions are taking place in Glastonbury, Bridgwater, Taunton and Yeovil, and so far the groups have learnt new skills with needlefelt, punch needle, applique and stitch. English is not their first language, but this has not prevented them from learning about and celebrating natural yarns and traditional textile crafts, creating beautiful images of damselflies, dormice, shrill carder bees, ferns and bluebells, that will help to highlight the impact of habitation loss on the fauna and flora within Somerset.  

The Conversation Clubs are inclusive and informal. They are safe spaces that allow the women to participate without concern or judgement.  In some towns, the conversation club is the only setting which allows women to bring their children with them – this can be hugely helpful where childcare is not available. Simply chatting and practising real-life scenarios (parents’ evening, ordering in a cafe, talking to the doctor) boosts confidence so that they feel better equipped to deal with the challenges they face living in the UK. The biggest benefit is enabling the women to make English-speaking friendships outside of what may be a limited circle in their own community, friendships which provide fun, mutual support and of course English practice!

A number of the group stated that they have enjoyed the Spinning a Yarn sessions, they found the experience relaxing and now they have learnt these new skills they would consider continuing them as hobbies.  A visit has been arranged to go to the Somerset Rural Life Museum in the autumn to see group artwork displayed as part of the Spinning a Yarn project exhibition.

Luan will be offering open workshops at Yeovil Together on Sunday 14 July if you would like to join in, or use our templates, ‘how to’ films and resources at home – all available from spinning-a-yarn.org