Beginnings

For a long time now, Tim and Becca have had a dream to create a safe, welcoming workshop space for people to come and be creative together. A place for people to learn to make and fix things but also be made to feel at home, be accepted and to come to know Jesus. Tim is a builder, with a background also in engineering and youthwork. Becca a nurse, provides Craft Therapy for patients through Yeovil Hospital.

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At the beginning of 2020, they were looking at renting a small shop in Stoke Sub Hamdon, but with the Covid 19 pandemic hitting that all fell through. Having a good long friendship with Dan and Sarah Dunning, Tim and Dan came up with the idea of siting a portacabin at their farm in Ash. 

 

Dan and Sarah took over Spring Farm in 2019, through their shared Christian faith they desire to see the land used to serve God and others practically. Spring Farm has been used in this way for generations past. They want others, particularly the vulnerable or struggling, to benefit physically, emotionally, socially and spiritually from the therapeutic and beautiful outdoor space.  So together with Dan’s experience in farming and Sarah’s background in care and then social work, the team of four prayerfully moved forward with the collective idea of The Maker’s Place…a place to make, mend and grow together.

 

It is still in its very early stages, but the two coupled team are in the process of setting it up as a Community Interest Company (non-profit company), in time it may well become a charity. 

 

The Maker’s Place is set within the working Spring Farm, and will no doubt alter and grow as things progress.  At the moment, it consists of portacabin, a small vegetable patch, fire pit and a section of land that could be used to care for small animals and incorporate a woodland play area. 

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Craft Cabin

The 42-foot porta cabin safely landed on Spring Farm at the beginning of July. It was not without its obstacles, but Dan and Tim worked hard the week leading up to the arrival by widening the entrance to the farm to enable access. The cabin is just one element to the vision and is well located with parking nearby and views across fields leading to Montacute and Ham Hill.

 

This stage of The Maker’s Place is being run voluntarily so it may take some time to convert the cabin. They hope to keep people up to date with any progress, as this is such an exciting venture that should be shared, and they would like to invite others to join in the journey. 

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Their desire is to glorify God in all that is done through the Maker’s Place. They have already had amazing provisions such as being given a huge discount on a Howdens Kitchen for the tearoom, donations of 2 benches for outside, an outdoor table and chair set and some money towards the new flooring and a new dishwasher. They have also had great advice from a risk and fire assessment man, which in itself was a real answer to prayer. 

 

If anyone would like to help or perhaps join our prayer group then please get in contact by email info@themakersplace.co.uk.

In time the hope is to open up the facilities of the craft cabin to all people who would like to make or mend things, learn new skills as well as make beautiful or useful things. 

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One idea is to run and coordinate Maker’s & Taker’s workshop sessions for adults, children and groups or parties. Becca is keen to get her Craft Therapy in Cancer patients to The Maker's Place one day a week. Jo Hunt is also keen to explore the idea of running art workshops for children and adults. Watch this space!