Whether you want to sink into a sofa and share stories, get hands on making, or hang out in the kitchen cooking up new ideas, there's a spot with your name on it.

Over the two floors of the mill, we’ll have three different “rooms” for you to discover. Each with activities, conversations and displays hosted by friends and collaborators from across our emerging network of makers, doers and connectors.

Once you’ve finished exploring, they’ll be time to sit down, share food and dive into conversations together.

“Play, Creativity and Clowning for Wellbeing” hosted by Kelly Herrick and Anna Sharpe Jones  

Wild Mind Journaling with Christine Thomas

Mini Robot Making with Swanwick Men’s Shed

Finger Knitting with Sandra Maycock

Punch Needle Embroidery with Paola De Giovanni

Upcycled t-shirt, made by Linda Philo as part of Transition Crich Sustainable Fashion Show

Fabric banners, dress, photos, film, shared by Claire Limb Creative Agent Update - May 2025

Hand painted Folk Art, made by Deborah Hill

“Wave of Creativity” photos and display, shared by Sarah Francis

Glazes and handmade tiles, made by Peter from Royce Wood Studios

MAKERS free standing letters, made by Swanwick Men’s Shed  

Amanda Haran

Andrew Martyn Sugars

Ann Turner

Anna Sharpe-Jones

Beth Sheldon 

Brian Shore 

Cerian Moncaster 

Christine Thomas

Claire Hunter

Clare Limb 

Dean Leivers

Deborah Hill

Derrek Thurlow

Dorothy Mellors

Gemma Gwen Armes

Gemma Hall 

George Pauselli

Ian Pringle

Iona Davies- Schofield

Jemma Burton  

Jodie Cresswell-Waring

John Felix

Karen Birch

Kelly Herrick

Linda Philo

Linsey Farnsworth

Lise Bennett

Lizzie Bourke 

Martin Farnsworth

Paola DeGio 

Peter Wood

Rachel Smith

Rebecca Patrick

Sandra Maycock

Samantha Whelan

Sarah Francis

Stephanie Haydon

Swanwick Mens Shed

Tara Bennett

Tony Fisher

Tony Mellors

Tony Rose

Victoria Garside

·       To dream up ways of bringing more stuff back into community ownership

·       A chance to talk about who has the power in the Amber Valley with local makers

·       Action is slow but it it there. Inspire, facilitate and there’s a lot of hope it all grows. Community leads together.

·       Community appetite

·       Rooting these beautiful seedlings into a sustainable earthy, arty, long term bit plant!

·       Collective power. Not centralised power hoarding. “No little chiefs”

Solidarity & Care

·       Promoting, cheer leading, pushing each others dreams

·       A love of creativity in people with low mood and share the power of the little things

·       Professional development

·       Supporting creative connections café venture … food tasting

Peer Learning & Sharing

·       Traditional cookery skills, creative kitchen. Save old methods. i.e Butchery, upcycling

·       Hands on making skills – cheaper and fun to meet people

·       Share what we already have

Action & Hope

·       Having conversations about big, knotty, untangleable stuff and ending with solidarity for the hope and potential here

·       I’d like more people to try new crafts and be less afraid of failing

·       I would love people to see the true value and awesomeness that happens in communities. I’d like them to be inspired to join in more and contribute wherever possible

·       I want to stir up connection and joy and belief in the power of community

·       I would love to stir up hope and pride in our town. Encouraging people to connect with where they live and its history

·       Think about how we can take stock of what we’ve built so far and move forward with gusto – bringing the whole community along

Connection & Collaboration

·       Connection with local community, better communication of what is happening in the local area

·       To connect with others who have the same vision as me

·       A community newsletter – promoting and pushing all creative activities with schools and other communities

·       Build connection to nature. Kind people share generosity and cake.

·       To meet other folk who care about connection in relation to nature and history

·       Ideally have more open house events, more joyful connections