Individual Wellbeing Support
Moment of Calm
Through simple handmade wellbeing items such as Worry Worms, Calm Balls and Fidget Toys, students can help create small moments of comfort, reassurance and connection for people facing challenging situations. Our creations currently support:
🏥 Patients and families in hospital settings, including Emergency Departments and healthcare wellbeing programmes
🧠 Young people accessing mental wellbeing and resilience programmes through community partners such as BRIYM
🏫 Children and young people in schools, including SEND and emotional wellbeing support settings
❤️ Individuals and families who may benefit from comfort, encouragement and emotional support
Twiddle Muffs
Through our Individual Wellbeing Support initiatives, Crafting Smiles creates handmade Twiddle Muffs—textured knit or crochet bands with items like ribbons, buttons, and beads attached both inside and out. These comfort items are specifically designed to provide gentle visual, tactile, and sensory stimulation for individuals living with dementia, learning disabilities, or cognitive impairments.
By offering a safe, soothing distraction, these muffs help reduce agitation, keep restless hands active, and promote a sense of calm during periods of anxiety or unfamiliar routines. Each piece is crafted by our community volunteers to support local care homes, memory clinics, and hospital wards, delivering practical comfort directly to those who need it most.
Bereavement & Emotional Support
Palm Bear
Help bring comfort to children:
We are donating palm bears / rabbit for children going through difficult times. Each bear is a symbol of love, comfort, and support.
💛 Your bears will go to:
Children in foster care
Children affected by the war in Ukraine
A handmade bear can help a child feel safe, cared for, and less alone.
Join our Crafting Smiles initiative and support the Buddy Bear Foundation (Charity Number 1164916) and VSI Razom ( Charity Number 1212748)
Together, we can help children feel cared for and valued during very challenging times.
Footprint
Donate to Charity Footprint Babyloss 1206261, it supports for families who have lost a child, offering care and understanding during their time of grief. Through our handmade donations, such as unique footprints, we help remember and honor the babies who have passed away. Each contribution not only brings comfort but also reminds families that they are not alone. We encourage everyone to get involved and volunteer, as together we can craft smiles and foster a supportive community.
Butterfly
Each handmade butterfly is a testament to a precious life, providing comfort, love, and hope to families who have lost loved ones. These beautiful creations not only embody care, respect, and compassion but also support hospice and end-of-life organizations through handmade donations. By participating in this initiative, we foster community support and craft smiles for those in need. We encourage everyone to volunteer and contribute to these meaningful charities:
The Skype High Foundation 1190970
Our Angel Bears 1195318
Maggie's Stillbirth Legacy 1067163
Pair of Hearts
The Pair of Hearts is a handmade gift created as part of our charity efforts to support individuals at the end of life and in hospice care. This initiative focuses on community support by sharing love, comfort, and care with patients and their families. Each heart serves as a reminder that they are not alone in their journey. These hearts have been donated to many hospitals and hospices, showcasing the impact of our volunteer contributions.
Rose
GiveASmiles Cards
We donate various handmade flowers as part of our community support efforts to assist a UK charity that provides hospice, end-of-life care, and bereavement support. These handmade donations share love and comfort, reminding families that they are not alone during difficult times. Our efforts focus on crafting smiles and bringing hope to many hospitals and hospices.
GiveASmiles Cards
GiveASmiles Cards
Each card features a handmade crocheted star, heart, or flower created by dedicated volunteers, emphasizing our commitment to community support. Simple messages are included to uplift patients, conveying care, kindness, and hope. These handmade donations are part of our charity efforts, crafting smiles for those in need. Donated to Royal Bekershire Hospital.
Community Engagement & Resilience
Hats & Gloves
During the harsh winter, people experiencing street homelessness rely heavily on community support for the most basic protection — a hat to shield them from the cold wind and gloves to keep their hands warm. By engaging with local charity initiatives like InHope 298528, we can make a difference through handmade donations and programs that focus on crafting smiles. Volunteer your time and skills to help those in need.
Syringe Driver Bag
Each handmade Soft Comfort Syringe Driver Bag is designed to help hospital patients safely carry syringe drivers and syringes, while protecting the equipment from bumps or tugs. These bags provide both practical convenience and comfort, offering dignity and reassurance during treatment. Donated to hospitals and end-of-life care organisations, they bring care and support to patients when they need it most.
Forget-me-not wristband
The Forget Me Not flower symbolizes care and community support for individuals living with dementia, including Alzheimer’s disease. The patterned wristband conveys the message of 'we remember you' and 'you are not alone,' offering comfort and support to patients and their families. Through crafting smiles, these handmade donations play a vital role in enhancing the lives of those affected. This initiative has been generously donated to Royal Bekershire Hospital by dedicated volunteers.
Ribbon
Ribbons play a vital role in supporting Baby Loss Awareness Week and White Ribbon Day, which fosters community support for those affected. White Ribbon Day encourages individuals to speak out against violence and discrimination towards women, reinforcing the importance of charity initiatives. Pink and blue ribbons symbolize love and support, reminding families who have lost babies that they are not alone, and that there are opportunities for crafting smiles through handmade donations and volunteer efforts.
Poppy Appeal
Crafting Smiles has supported remembrance projects through creative community engagement. In 2025, we donated 1,000 poppy pins to the Royal British Legion Berkshire appeal, helping raise around £4,000. We also provided 1,000 poppies for a community church installation in Hereford, bringing local people together through a shared act of remembrance.
Chinese Tangerine
Support the charity that enhances community support for the Chinese community, including elderly individuals and new immigrants. Your donations also contribute to crafting smiles by helping special school students learn about the traditions of Chinese New Year.
Support Charity & Special School:
Camden Chinese Community Centre 288008
Portesbery School in Newbury
Support for Reading Hongkongers CIC – New Year Event
Fundraising & Sustainability
Spring Decoration
Christmas Decoration
Christmas Decoration
Crafting Smiles creates seasonal handmade items, such as spring flower coasters and themed keychains. These pieces are created by our volunteers—including complete beginners—who discover the joy of finishing their first handmade project while contributing to a greater cause.
Every item crafted is donated to charity sales and community markets, converting creative energy into direct financial support. These sales help local organizations raise vital operational funds, allowing us to support cancer patients, students, the elderly, and vulnerable individuals within our community.
Christmas Decoration
Christmas Decoration
Christmas Decoration
Crafting Smiles creates festive handmade items, such as Christmas decorations. These pieces are created by our volunteers—including complete beginners—who discover the joy of finishing their first handmade project while contributing to a greater cause.
Last year, our community successfully donated 6,000 Christmas items, helping local organisations raise over £12,000 in vital operational funds. These charity sales convert creative energy into direct financial support, allowing us to support cancer patients, students, the elderly, and vulnerable individuals within our community.
Easter Decoration
Therapy Dog Training
Therapy Dog Training
Crafting Smiles creates festive handmade items, such as animal-themed Creme Egg covers for Easter. These pieces are created by our volunteers—including complete beginners—who discover the joy of finishing their first handmade project while contributing to a greater cause. Every item crafted is donated to charity sales and community markets, converting creative energy into direct financial support. These sales help local organizations raise vital operational funds, allowing us to support cancer patients, students, the elderly, and vulnerable individuals within our community.
Therapy Dog Training
Therapy Dog Training
Therapy Dog Training
Crafting Smiles is partnering with the mental wellbeing organisation BRIYM to launch a dedicated fundraising initiative. This campaign supports the professional training of therapy dogs and their placement into local schools to provide essential emotional support for children.
Therapy dogs play a vital role in children’s emotional and psychological wellbeing. By interacting with a trained therapy dog, children experience reduced anxiety, an enhanced sense of safety, and increased social confidence in their school environment. Through this project, we aim to combine community creativity with practical action, transforming small handmade items into meaningful support for children’s mental health.