In its first year since forming in July 2023, local charity Burgess Hill Creative Community has already won a loyal following, including Mayor Janice Henwood who has made it her chosen charity.
The charity has been recognised with a Community Project of the Year award from Mid Sussex Applauds, as well as being chosen by B&M to open their new store in Burgess Hill on April 9th. Now BHCC is planning a summer of fun for its members and the surrounding community, so that even more local residents can get involved in discovering their creative side.
Chair Jo Homan says: ‘We believe everyone has creative talents – even if they might not know it yet! Whether you sew, knit, paint, love pottery, weaving, papercrafts, or just want to get started, you’ll find something to enjoy. We give people the chance to socialise and share skills in an affordable, friendly space – and we host events for other local charities as part of our mission to build a strong resilient community in Burgess Hill. This summer, we’ve got some great events coming up, with our craft activities sessions; monthly workshops from the Burgess Hill Repair Café on April 13th, May 11th and June 8th and a Community Crafters Market on June 1st, showcasing the work of several members and complementing the Town Council’s open-air market, held on the same day.
Set up at the Kiln in Burgess Hill in July 2023, Burgess Hill Creative Community has grown quickly and now has over 120 members. Under the banner ‘Join hands, create wonders’, it provides a safe relaxed space for creative adults to come together to exchange ideas, craft skills and conversation. Fees are kept low to enable accessibility to as wide an audience as possible. The BHCC team are all volunteers who give their time free to ensure the town has an inclusive creative space that allows people to connect and socialise to improve their wellbeing and share skills in a friendly arts and crafts environment. The next step for the charity is finding a permanent location so that it can act as a long-term focus for the town’s future as the creative hub of Mid Sussex.
Find out more at bhcreativecommunity.co.uk
