'Sewing helps me focus on the present'

Oliver Eagle-Wilsher, a volunteer who will be liaising with participants, said teaching sewing had a "profoundly positive effect" on his mental health

A new crafting and wellness group aimed at improving men's mental health has launched in Cambridge.

People joining Men's Hems will have the opportunity to upcycle and repurpose clothes.

Oliver Eagle-Wilsher, a tutor for the new group, said sewing had helped him "focus on the present" and accept when things do not go according to plan.

A similar group, based in Yaxley near Peterborough, said its Hobby Hub had been "really popular" and could reduce stress for those who came along.

Adam, who has signed up for the new 'Men's Hems' group in Cambridge said it was "great to see a creative sewing group aimed at men" as it helped his "mental fitness"

The Men's Hems project, set up by UK charity Sew Positive, will cover mending clothes, simple fixes such as repairing buttons, and more creative upcycling projects.

Sessions - starting on Tuesday at Cambridge Design Rooms - will be led by experienced tutor Colin "Superstitch" Coleman and sashiko facilitator Mr Eagle-Wilsher.

"The act of sewing helps me focus on the present," Mr Eagle-Wilsher said.

"In my sashiko practice that means trying to keep a rhythm to the sewing rather than perfect stitches.

"On top of that, when dealing with mistakes within my own pattern, cutting work has given me a deeper understanding of acceptance when things do not go according to plan."

Sashiko is a 300-year-old Japanese method of upcycling textiles.

The group said it would welcome people who may be feeling socially isolated or dealing with family breakdowns, low mood, or other challenges.

Mr Coleman said the whirring of the sewing machine helped "calm the noise of the world".

Melissa Santiago-Val hoped the project could also combat the environmental issues of textile waste

Men's Hems was one of the first projects to be awarded funding from Cambridgeshire, Peterborough and South Lincolnshire (CPSL) Mind's Good Life Plus Fund.

Fund co-ordinator Abby Glonek congratulated Sew Positive for its "hard work in raising the profile of mental health".

Sew Positive chief executive Melissa Santiago-Val pointed out that textile waste was a huge environmental issue.

She added: "Enabling men to learn basic mending and upcycling skills, while in a supportive environment, is therefore crucial and is a great opportunity to show it's not just women who sew."

Ollie Ayres, from the Hobby Hub in Yaxley, said the group welcomed all abilities

The Hobby Hub in Yaxley was launched in 2022 and also received funding from from CPSL Mind.

It promoted hobbies including painting, scale modelling, sculpting, wargames, textile work and 3D printing.

Hub director Ollie Ayres said it had proved popular and that the team had a "brilliant volunteers" from trade and crafting industries.

"[It] has really helped people in times of need," she added.