Empowering Hands, Crafting Dreams, and Igniting Futures
Empowering Women through Artisan Craft Workshops
In this picture, from the right is the founder of Skilled Hands Organisation, next is the former Lord Mayor of Nottingham, Cllr Wendy Smith, followed by Summaya Mughal (Senior Journalist from BBC Radio Leicester), next to her is a beneficiary of Skilled Hands Organisation during the cake cutting at our 5th Anniversary Celebrations on the 20th of May, 2023 @ The Vine Community Centre (Nottingham, UK)
Crafting away when Stressed is the best gift to self
Welcome to Skilled Hands Organisation CIC, where empowerment takes shape through the artistry of skilled crafts! We're not just a community interest company; we're a transformative force fostering self-reliance and confidence in women. Our vibrant workshops, spanning dressmaking, soap making, bag making, millinery, and jewellery crafting, go beyond mere skills – they're a journey to empowerment.
At Skilled Hands, we believe in the power of artisanal crafts to weave stronger communities. We're not just teaching crafts; we're crafting futures. Our mission is to break barriers for women facing unemployment, caring responsibilities, or financial challenges. Through these engaging workshops, we're not just reducing loneliness and mental health issues; we're stitching a supportive community fabric.
Picture this: women, once facing hurdles, now turning threads into dreams. Our workshops aren't just about creating beautiful items; they're about crafting futures. We're not just handing out skills; we're handing out independence. By nurturing these talents, we're sowing the seeds for small businesses to blossom, creating a ripple effect of economic empowerment.
Skilled Hands isn't just an organisation; it's a catalyst for change. We're here to amplify voices, bolster confidence, and turn aspirations into reality. Join us in this creative journey – where hands are skilled, hearts are inspired, and futures are transformed. Together, let's shape a world where every woman's potential is realized, one craft at a time.
Send your application form to skills.hands.org@gmail.com
AWARDS
Skilled Hands Organisation have won the Global Recognition Award 2024 and has been shortlisted for Black, Asian, Minority Ethnic Business of the Year by The British Business Awards. Our director Sheila Ako has also been shortlisted for the Entrepreneur of the year award by the Great British Entrepreneur Awards.
Our Craft Courses
Millinery Workshop
Millinery Quote “A hat is a flag, a shield, a bit of armour and a badge of feminity. A hat is the difference between wearing clothes and wearing costume; it’s the difference between being dressed and being dressed up; it’s the difference between looking adequate and looking your best. A hat is to be stylish in, to glow under, to flirt beneath, to make all others seem jealous over and to make all men feel Masculine about. A piece of magic is a hat” (Martha Sliter)
In our millinery class, you will be able to learn almost all the skills and techniques in millinery. You should be able to create and model out fascinators, hatinators and Sinamay hats at the end of the programme. The main materials used in this class are Sinamay and Fabrics.
This workshop is for all unemployed women, women with caring responsibilities and those on low income living in Nottingham.
Course duration is 10 weeks. We meet 2 hours 30 minutes a week over a cuppa and some biscuits. Our workshop is made up of women from all backgrounds and it’s always a fun place to be, where you will see a massive display of creativity.
(Product displayed in this section was done by one of our ladies - Sheila)
Dressmaking Workshop
Put your creativity to work. One of our goals is to ensure that all women who walk through our doors to take this course, leave us with the ability to make a garment for themselves professionally. Our dressmaking course starts from the basic level to the advanced level.
In this class, you will be able to learn how to use the sewing machine, make simple straight stitches, finish seams professionally, learn how to draft and model a garment.
Our success stories in this course is one to write home about. We have had women who knew nothing about dressmaking when they joined us but, were able to make lovely garments for themselves and their little girls before the course came to an end.
This is a 24 week course. We meet term time only, once a week for 2 hours 30 mins. Our training centres are well resourced. The Organisation provides all the basic tools and materials needed to make projects enjoyable and less stressful. We provide fabrics for small projects (swatches) but, you will have to provide your own fabric for major projects.
At the end of the course, we usually organise a fashion show or a fair to give our participants the opportunity to show off their works.
This workshop is free to all unemployed women, women with caring responsibilities and those on low income living in Nottingham.
(The garment in this picture was made by one of our ladies - Julia).
Jewellery Making Workshop
To be perfect at something, you have to keep at it.
In our Accessories and Jewellery Making class, we learn how to make necklaces, bracelets, rings, anklets, broaches and hair accessories. The main materials used in this class are beads, jewellery making hardware (findings), Resin, Polymer Clay, Bronze Clay, Fabrics and Faux Leather.
This is a full course and starts at the beginners level, through to intermediate, then to advance level. It’s a 24 weeks course. We meet once a week for 2 hours 30 minutes. At the end of the programme, you should be able to do lovely bespoke accessories for sale. You will recieve a certified certificate from NOCN at the end of the course and also have the opportunity to showcase your works at an exhibition or fair.
This workshop is free to all unemployed women, women with caring responsibilities and those on low income living in Nottingham.
Our workshop is made up of women from all backgrounds and it's always a fun place to be, where you will see a massive display of creativity.
(Product displayed in this section was made during one of our many beading classes. 4 Petals Shamrock Bracelet)
Bag Making Workshop
Creativity at it's finest
In our bag making class, you will learn how to make bags with both leather and fabric. You will be able to design and model out your own creations before the end of this 10 weeks course. Some of the bags you will be doing are clutch bags, tote bags, purses, kiss lock bags, origami bags just to mention a few.
We meet every week for 2 hours 30 minutes, term time only, over a cuppa and some biscuits.
This class is for unemployed women, women with caring responsibilities and those on low income living in Nottingham
Our workshop is made up of women from all backgrounds and it’s always a fun place to be, where you will see a massive display of creativity.
Participants get the opportunity to show off their products in an exhibition and will also receive a certificate of participation at the end of the programme.
(The bag product in this section was done by one of our ladies - Ruby)
Soap Making Workshop'
Join us and soap off
In our soap making class, we explore with oils, butters, wax, colours, herbs and fragrances. In this class, you will learn two methods of making soap. Melt and pour soap making process and Cold process soap making. You will also learn how to make candles, bath bombs, bath salt, body butter and lip gloss.
This is a 10 week course, all the tools and materials needed to get the work done will be provided to make the project enjoyable and less stressful. We meet once a week for 2 hours 30 minutes, term time only. The course is free to all unemployed women, women with caring responsibilities and those on low income living in Nottingham.
Our training centres are well resourced and everyone has access to enough tools and materials to work effectively.
Participants are offered the opportunity to show off their products in an exhibition and will also receive a certificate of participation at the end of the programme.
(The soap product in this section was done by one of our ladies - Asole).
Small Business Set-up Workshop
Its always good for every woman to have a little money of their own.
One of the main reasons why Skilled Hands Organisation was founded in 2018 was to offer unemployed women, Stay-home mums and women on low income living in Nottingham the opportunity to set up small businesses of their own to enable them earn extra revenue to support their families. The lady in the picture was a PHD student who joined the program with little or no skill in dressmaking. When her study period with Skilled Hands was over, she was able to construct the amazing garment you see in the picture and went on to do two extra garments for her two adorable daughters. We believe that, with determination, everything is possible.
We encourage our ladies to start small businesses no matter how small, with the skills acquired from us. To be able to do this effectively, we have teamed up with Nottingham Business Venture (NBV) to make sure our beneficiaries receive the best information and support to enable them start their businesses on the right foot.
(The product in this section was made by one of our ladies - Ross)
At the End of your training, you will receive a Certificate endorsed by NOCN
As a local charity we rely mainly on the support of Organisations, the Community, Groups and Trusts. We are honoured to have worked with all of these businesses and still working with Most of them. The National Lottery Community, Castle Cavendish, Near Neighbours, Nottingham Together, NG 7 Training, Greggs, Nottingham City Council, Nottingham Business Ventures, Nottingham Volunteer Centre, Nottingham Women’s Centre, Mary Potter Children’s Centre, BBC Nottingham Radio, Notts TV, KEMET FM, Hyson Green Asda and Broxtowe Children’s Centre.