Crafting connections: a day of creativity and community for families affected by JIA

We met the most amazing children, young people and parents at our t-shirt craft event on Sunday. Our wonderful volunteers Katherine and Anne-Lise organised the event at The Little Arts Workshop in Bishop's Stortford as an opportunity for children and young people with Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis (JIA) to get together to enjoy a craft activity. 

These events are so much more than just an opportunity for children with JIA to do something fun. Because JIA is an uncommon condition, many children and young people with JIA will not know anyone else with the condition within their own circle of friends, school or community and it can feel very lonely when you are the only person you know who has JIA. 

When you get the opportunity to meet others with JIA, you no longer feel so isolated or alone.  You realise that there are others who are going through similar experiences. For parents and carers, it's a chance to connect and chat with others who "get it" without having to start from scratch by explaining what JIA is and that, 'yes - children can get arthritis too.'

The children got to create their own t-shirt designs during the craft activity, followed by decorating a colourful canvas design to take home with them. Pizza was enjoyed by all too! 

One parent told us "We don't know other JIA families near us so it was so nice to finally connect with people who understand." 

Another explained that her child "has loved meeting children just like her. It has helped her feel included and understood."

We've always been proud of our exceptional volunteer team who dedicate so much time to supporting the charity and supporting families, so to receive the following feedback from a parent was really special: "The volunteers today were amazing, so helpful, friendly and kind, also personally knowledgeable and really made it a great day." 

We are really grateful to our volunteers who enable us to do all that we do. All that remains to say is an especially big thank you to the incredible children and young people who came along with their parents today. You are the ones that inspire us every single day!

We can't wait to see you again soon.

We can only run events like these in areas where we have the support of volunteers to organise and arrange the events.

Previous events have included Easter crafts, Animal Encounters, Horse riding, Summer picnic and a Chocolate making workshop, so if you are interested in joining our volunteer team to organise events in your area, please contact michelle@jarproject.org and mention that you'd like to arrange family support events in your region.