THIS YEAR || Our Year in Retrospect 2024

A Year in Retrospect – Skilled Hands

2024 has been an extraordinary year at Skilled Hands. Filled with creativity, collaboration, and transformation, this year marked incredible milestones for our community. Here’s a look back at everything we achieved together.

Empowering Lives Through Workshops

Thanks to the support of the National Lottery Community Fund, we kicked off 2024 with a spectacular launch event. Attended by the then-Sheriff of Nottingham, councillors, Nottingham City Council staff, and our workshop participants, the event set the stage for a year of growth and empowerment.

With this support, we expanded our workshops to meet increasing demand, offering morning, afternoon, and evening sessions, along with after-school clubs. In total, 164 free workshops and 192 overall workshops were held this year, empowering 86 women, 41 of whom earned their nationally recognised NOCN certificates.

Business Start-Up Workshops and Corporate Events

This year, we hosted two inspiring Small Business Start-Up Workshops:

One led by Nottingham-based artist Emily Catherine, who shared her journey and valuable insights into running a creative business.

Another in collaboration with NBV, helping participants turn their passions into thriving ventures.


We also delivered Corporate Wellbeing Workshops for NHS staff at the Queen’s Medical Hospital in Nottingham and for the charity Living Without Abuse. These sessions highlighted the importance of creativity in boosting mental well-being, leaving participants feeling refreshed and inspired.

Special Visits and Podcast Milestones

A highlight of the year was a visit from Alex Norris MP, who joined us for a jewellery-making workshop. His participation and encouragement brought added joy and inspiration to the group.

We also embraced the power of storytelling, hosting interviews on our podcast channel. These heartfelt conversations showcased the stories of transformation, resilience, and creativity within our community.

Celebrations and Community Impact

We celebrated International Women’s Day twice this year—once at the Council House and again at our own event, themed “Pat on the Back Celebration.” These gatherings focused on empowerment, well-being, and connection, featuring activities like free health checks and expert advice from the NHS.

Our fourth annual Red Carpet event was another highlight. In collaboration with sculptor Rachel Carter, we celebrated Nottingham’s lace-making heritage. Women wore stunning designs crafted in our dressmaking classes, walking the runway with pride. The event was made possible by the generosity of Boots Nottingham, Impressions, and Asda Heisingreen.

Achievements and Awards

We are incredibly proud to share that four of our participants started small businesses this year. Two others earned top honours in competitions, while two more began professional careers using the skills gained at Skilled Hands.

This year, we were recognised for our outstanding service to the community with one award win and two additional nominations. These accolades are a testament to the dedication and hard work of our team, participants, and supporters.

Inspiring the Next Generation

Looking ahead, we are excited to launch our after-school clubs, starting with a pilot workshop on 24th January 2025, at the Mary Potter Children’s Centre. Spaces are limited, so we encourage parents to register early and give their children a creative head start.

How You Can Help

Despite our progress, many of our participants still lack access to essential tools like sewing machines. If you can support us through donations—whether cash, equipment, or supplies—you will help sustain our mission and empower more women.

Thank You for 2024

This year was a true testament to the power of creativity, collaboration, and community. To our funders, partners, volunteers, and participants: thank you for helping us make such a meaningful impact.

Together, we are crafting change—one stitch, one creation, and one empowered woman at a time.

Here’s to an even brighter 2025!


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