Based in Tower Hamlets since 1993, Stitches in Time works with the community to address local issues and bring people together. It began as an experiment to see if sewing could start conversations between strangers. 25 years later, the support offered is much more than just sewing. Projects are co-designed with users in response to their needs, building strong, inclusive, and cohesive communities.
Tower Hamlets is arguably the borough that best represents the city of London, with its glass fronted skyscrapers and luxury flats standing over densely populated public housing. Such contrasts underpin the highest level of income inequality in the UK, as well as the highest level of child and pensioner poverty, and a female unemployment rate which is more than twice the national average. While Muslims account for approximately 40% of the borough’s population, unemployment rates among Muslims are more than twice that of the population, and according to a 2017 House of Common report, “suffer the greatest economic disadvantages of any group in society.”
To begin to address some of the multiple disadvantages people in the local area face, Stitches in Time (SiT) provides access to free classes, 1:1 advice and support, social meeting opportunities, and collaborative creative projects. Using creative projects as a starting point, the team support culturally diverse groups to meet, access help, and work together. Beneficiaries face a range of complex issues, such as domestic and financial abuse, homelessness, long-term unemployment and isolation. Provision includes:
A 'Sewing Support Network', including ‘English for Sewing’ classes and personal support where, through sewing and conversation women improve their skills, confidence, English and employability.
Confidential 1-to-1 advice services, accredited to the Matrix Standard for Information, Advice, and Guidance.
Sewing Social classes, Makers Meets and Elders Stitch Club, for isolated women to meet and sew together.
Volunteer programmes supporting women to take on roles to increase confidence, skills and aspirations.
Community textile and visual art projects, working with diverse communities to make socially engaged artwork.
Out of SiT’s core offer, it became clear that some of the women wanted employment and training opportunities using SiT’s inclusive and flexible approach. FabricWorks was created in response to this: a textile and garment production enterprise, which operates under the main charity. It provides high-quality sewing and manufacturing services while creating meaningful employment and training opportunities for women from low-income backgrounds. Its mission is to combine exceptional craftsmanship with social impact, empowering women to build sustainable livelihoods through skills development and fair employment. There is a beginner and intermediary course, alongside volunteering opportunities and employment support.
When observing the time it takes women to transition into employment within manufacturing and listening to participant feedback, the team identified critical gaps in the support needed to prepare women for sustainable and meaningful employment. With support from the Foundation, a new FabricWorks programme has been specifically designed to address those gaps. The programme will run three times per year, training 15 women annually. Graduates will have the opportunity to join the organisation, contributing to its growth, or be supported in accessing external employment through tailored CV development, portfolio building, interview preparation, and ongoing mentoring. The team will also create a new business plan to enable the initiative to grow sustainably, ultimately supporting and empowering more women.
