Award-winning actress and activist Julie Hesmondhalgh met members of Jigsaw Homes’ community café who have used their creative skills to protest over the cost of living crisis.
Women from the Dukinfield Craft Café, which is funded by Jigsaw Homes in partnership with the Royal Exchange Theatre, used craftivism – a form of activism through arts and crafts – to create a powerful banner.
The group spent three weeks designing a heartfelt textile banner made from painted scraps of fabric that highlighted their own fears and worries surrounding the ongoing cost of living crisis.
The banner was presented to Andrew Gwynne, MP for Denton and Reddish at Dukinfield Central Community Hub to coincide with the nationwide Enough is Enough demonstrations.
Julie Hesmondhalgh, who starred in Coronation Street and Broadchurch, visited Dukinfield Central to meet the Craft Café group, learn more about their project and support local people through the power of protest.
The banner will be temporarily displayed at Andrew Gwynne’s drop-in surgeries before returning to Dukinfield Central, with members hoping it will spark new conversations about the cost of living crisis.
The Craft Café project was created in March 2022 by the Jigsaw Homes Neighbourhood Engagement team alongside artists from the Royal Exchange Theatre in Manchester.
John McGlynn, Neighbourhood Engagement Officer at Jigsaw Homes, said “With many people feeling intimidated by protesting, the project has allowed the local community to use their voice through crafts instead. It gets to the heart of what really matters to people in the country right now. None of the women involved knew each other six months ago which makes this project so inspirational.
“As craftivists their methods are viewed as a gentle, compassionate, respectful and quiet, while still having an impact. The process of making encourages people to engage thoughtfully with issues such as poverty, provoking reflection, conversation and then taking action together creating social change.”
Sam Edwards, Craft Co-ordinator at the Royal Exchange Theatre, said, “It has been so wonderful to work with this group to build the Craft Cafe up from scratch. As a community artist and craftivist it has felt so special to see this group be empowered by crafting to find their voice for activism.
“The banner is such a collaborative piece with all these ladies at the heart of it. The banner and the group are a powerful vehicle for social change, with strong roots to keep on making a difference to the community of Dukinfield.”
Julie Hesmondhalgh said, “This kind of work is everything. It is about theatres being inclusive and welcoming and about art and craft being a way to connect, protest and soothe. I loved every second of meeting the Dukky gang and hearing their stories.”
