Breaking boundaries: Our disability day service in Harrogate

Nestled in the picturesque town of Knaresborough, North Yorkshire, is our gorgeous Arts and Crafts Centre – a disability day service close to Harrogate that acts as a beacon of opportunity for those with sight loss and other disabilities.

One of the greatest benefits of spending time at the Arts and Crafts Centre is that our amazing staff can create a personal programme of creative workshops and training tailored to every individual. We believe that no one should be held back on their path to creativity, and this helps us to ensure that everyone can express themselves completely.

To summarise, our Arts and Crafts Centre acts as a home away from home and prides itself on its ability to help people flourish and build confidence.

The benefits of our Arts and Crafts Centre

Through our workshops, people living with a range of disabilities discover their talents, put them into practice and realise their full potential. On weekdays, our workshops are filled with Artmakers creating beautiful and unique pieces of art.

There is a diverse range of different workshops to choose from at the centre; you can take part in anything from jewellery and paper to woodwork and horticulture… The possibilities are endless! Our dedicated team are also always on hand to support Artmakers as they discover their talents, put them into practice and realise their full potential.

We received some lovely feedback recently from a parent of one of our amazing Artmakers, Stefi. They said, “The overall feeling of the Arts and Crafts Centre is magic, calm and full of a lot of happy Artmakers. Every morning when we drop Stefi off, she is met by her one-to-one helper and we immediately know she is in very safe hands. Stefi is so happy at Henshaws and loves the art workers and staff; it really is like one big family.

The centre means so much to her and we have noticed she has become much more confident, whether that’s joining in with the activities, meeting new friends or enjoying the superb cafe at Henshaws. Our lives have become so much more stable and calm and we can see a great future for Stefi thanks to the fantastic work Henshaws and its staff are doing. Long may it continue.” Feedback like this warms our hearts and reminds us that what we’re doing at Henshaws really is life-changing.

Artmakers not only have access to the varied workshop experiences and training facilities available every weekday but can also attend evening events and weekend social activities. With over 140 Artmakers accessing the centre each week, there’s a whole group of potential friends to meet.

What else is there to do?

Our disability day service near Harrogate offers more than just arts and crafts; it also offers fully accessible facilities and activities to inspire you. Whether you want to stroll through our tranquil gardens or whether you want to grab a cuppa and a delicious slice of cake from our cafe, there is something for everyone to enjoy!

Our fully licensed café is open for breakfast, lunch, snacks and drinks. There’s tasty homemade soup, sandwiches, topped jacket potatoes, cakes and more. Where possible, we use seasonal ingredients that are sourced locally or grown on-site by our amazing Artmakers.

Within our gorgeous gardens is our new garden centre in which you’ll find a beautiful variety of flowers and plants; all of which have been proudly grown and selected by our Artmakers. This gorgeous area will be full of nature and has been crafted with happiness and love. The plants on display at our centre are available for purchase, so why don’t you pop down for a visit and grab yourself some beautiful new flowers for your garden?

If that wasn’t enough, we also have a shop! In our shop, you’ll find an exciting range of products from Handmade at Henshaws, our social enterprise. You can purchase products made at the centre, including handmade cards, ceramics, bags, jewellery, bird tables, bird boxes and artwork. It’s a great place to find an original card or present – and you’ll be helping to support our work as well.

As well as all the amazing things mentioned above, we also hold regular events including live music nights, craft fairs and family activities. Our Arts and Crafts Centre really is the place to be if you want a magical day out, so why not find out more and visit us soon?

So, fancy being an amazing Henshaws Artmaker?

If your interest has been piqued by all the amazing things our Arts and Crafts Centre offers, we’d love to hear from you! Our Artmakers are the beating heart of our little home in Knaresborough, and we’re always ready with open arms to welcome new creativity.

You can also visit our Arts and Crafts area on the website to find out more about our amazing centre and everything it offers… We hope to see you here soon!