ABOUT US

Stitches in Time began as an experiment to see if sewing could start conversations between strangers. This small experiment in 1993 turned into our giant founding project, the creation of 50 tapestries made by over 3,000 local people. Read more about it here.

For over 30 years we have co-designed and delivered socially beneficial, community-led projects and educational programmes in textiles and visual arts, helping to build an inclusive Tower Hamlets.

Embedded in our local community, we are an established, person-centred, trusted service provider for hard-to-reach marginalised women predominantly from migrant communities. The majority are isolated, on low income and in receipt of benefits. Our work is designed to empower and effect change in their lives, potentially helping them to find routes into employment. We provide advice, alongside programmes that build confidence, support networks, skills, and opportunities. We’re accredited to the Matrix quality mark.

Our creative programmes are designed to raise skill levels, offer appropriate accessible learning and build community cohesion. Projects frequently raise awareness of critical local issues, and give participants a new-found voice. Using the arts as a tool for community engagement, we create innovative projects that develop new ways of working and promote progressive change.

In the past 12 months we have:

• Delivered 36 weeks of English for Sewing classes, 4 classes per week, in 3 community locations, to 127 women

• Delivered 36 weeks of Makers Meet and Stitch Club sessions to 15-20 women weekly, increasing social contact for  elderly women at Stepney City Farm

• Delivered 34 weeks of Sewing Social classes, reaching approx 75 women

• Provided volunteering and work placement opportunities to approx 33 women over the year, increasing confidence, opportunity and experience. 

• Delivered 148 1:1 Information, Advice and Guidance appointments providing personal, on hand support, delivered in Bengali/English by women, for women. 

• Supported 5 women into FE opportunities with Poplar Works on their Making For Change Textile programme

• Supported 20 women into unpaid work experience programmes and 5 women into employment for the first time within our FabricWorks social enterprise arm, undertaking hundreds of textile commissions for clients e.g. The National Portrait Gallery, Monsoon, and more. 

• Delivered 10 sessions with Imperial College London, on a partnership programme bringing together women who are affected by asthma and scientists researching the biology of asthma in creative workshops. 

• Exhibited our ‘By You’ Tapestry at the Tower of London for a year. This 26 metre tapestry tells the story of daily life during the pandemic. It is made up of over 275 textile pieces, hand stitched by 190 makers from Tower Hamlets and across the world, who responded to the call out for participation. It depicts scenes of their diverse lockdown experiences, documenting a particular time and piece of social history