Arts Connect kick-start creativity in the Black Country gifting over 1500 Craft Packs to families

Arts Connect, a Centre for Cultural Education in the School of Creative Industries at the University of Wolverhampton has been working with Family Hub partners in the Black Country to bring creative skills, ideas, resources and most importantly playfulness, to children and their families in Dudley, Walsall and Wolverhampton, by distributing free craft packs through the Let’s Craft programme.  

As part of the programme, Arts Connect ran hands-on crafting workshops at Family Hub celebration days in Walsall, to inspire children and parents and give them creative ideas to try at home. Every child was given a free, giant craft pack, full of crafting resources and materials.             

Let’s Craft was a programme run by Crafts Council in partnership with Hobbycraft, who provided packs of craft materials to gift to families that might not be able to afford them and that supported children to be creative. Arts Connect were one of 10 partners from across England who helped distribute over 15,000 packs last year.  

Let’s Craft ran for five years, starting during the lockdowns in 2020 when Arts Council England, The Art Fund and Crafts Council supported organisations in England to distribute arts and crafts packs for children and young people impacted by the lockdown. During lockdown, Arts Connect distributed over 5,000 of these packs to Children in Care, nursery aged children and community arts organisations across the West Midlands. 

The partnership with Crafts Council and Hobbycraft then came together to deliver Let's Craft packs for a further two years – with the last packs being distributed just before Christmas. Arts Connect were delighted to continue this work but with a focus on the Black Country. Let’s Craft came to an end in 2025 with 40,285 craft packs delivered across England over the 5 years,it is estimated that over 100,000 children benefited.  

The programme may have ended, but its legacy lives on in the relationships that Arts Connect have forged with Family Hubs in the Black Country. We are looking forward to carrying the flame of creativity forward with children and young people in Walsall, a flame that was ignited by the generosity and vision of Craft Council and Hobbycraft.    

Arts Connect are committed to nurturing and supporting the creativity of all children and young people in the Black Country and the wider West Midlands and look for ways to reduce and remove any barriers to accessing the visual arts, providing free craft and art materials directly to families with Let’s Craft is a part of this.      

“It promoted us to play together…My child said it was phenomenal.”  Walsall Family Hub Parent took part in an Arts Connect craft session and received a craft pack.   

“Partnering with Arts Connect last summer was a truly enriching experience for Walsall Family Hubs. The craft packs not only brought creativity into homes but also created meaningful moments of connection between children and their families. We saw first-hand how accessible, engaging activities can spark joy, build confidence, and strengthen relationships. The feedback from families was overwhelmingly positive, and we’re proud to continue this partnership that places arts and wellbeing at the heart of community support.” Sarah Tapscott, Family Hub Senior, Walsall Council 

 “We are delighted to have partnered with Crafts Council and Hobbycraft and deeply value the relationships that we have built through it with Family Hubs in Dudley, Walsall and Wolverhampton.    

 “We continue to see the importance of crafting and play to children and the joy that these packs bring to them. We know that taking part in creative activities can bring families together and this was wonderfully evident in the workshops we ran at the Walsall Family Hubs. We know that creative play is an essential element in the early development of children and leads to a healthier and happier childhood.  Rob Elkington, Director Arts Connect  

 “Wolverhampton City Council were lucky to have been approached by Arts Connect, from Wolverhampton University to be part of the Let’s Craft project.  

 Last summer the Universal Services Team, as part of Wolverhampton Family Hubs held their annual family events across the city and distributed the arts boxes to families that attended. We gave out over 500 boxes and families were queuing up to collect theirs!  The children’s faces were filled with joy, and they were dragging their parent’s home so they could open the boxes.   

 Arts and crafts support an important role in developing creative play activities for children and expanding their imagination - the art boxes brought families together in so many different ways.  Thank you again !!” Reeta Shemar – Parent Champion and Community Engagement Manager, Wolverhampton City Council 

“Dudley Family Hubs have shared these craft resources with families using the service.  When collecting their packs parents were also able to find out more about the wide range of support and signposting that our hubs offer. 

 "The opportunity for families to receive free craft resources, have fun and be creative together has been a wonderful opportunity provided by Let’s Craft.” Councillor Wayne Little, cabinet member for Children and Young People, Dudley  

Metropolitan Borough Council 

“Let's Craft really is a testament to the power of people coming together and wouldn't be possible without the support of our regional partners around the country. It has been wonderful to work with Arts Connect on this programme, utilising their insight and expertise of Family Hubs in the Black Country to make sure that the packs go to families and children who would most benefit from them.”  Faith Rubia, Learning and Participation Producer, Crafts Council