Soft Ground: Textiles and Self-Soothing

Soft Ground is a four-month programme of free weekly drop-in textile-based art sessions designed to support mental wellbeing through creativity, routine, and communal making. Drawing from neurodivergent practices and trauma-informed methodologies, the sessions are open to all but particularly welcoming to neurodivergent participants.

What: Drop-in textile-based art sessions designed to support mental wellbeing

When: Every Friday, 2–4 pm, from 20 February to 5 June 2026

Where: SET Social Peckham, 55a Nigel Road, London SE15 4NP

Each session is led by a rotating group of women artists recognised for their inclusive practices and lived experience of neurodivergence: Kim Chin, Birungi Kawooya, Sue Mayo, and Jenny McIlhatton. Over regular two-hour sessions, participants engage at their own pace, supported by a gentle, sensory-aware structure that encourages co-regulation through tactile making. This approach helps reduce isolation, build trust, and nurture emotional well-being.

All sessions are hosted at our partner venue, SET Social Peckham, a vibrant community art space. Sessions will conclude with refreshments, creating a relaxed space for conversation and connection.

The project is designed to benefit neurodivergent individuals seeking gentle, creative ways to support their mental health, as well as anyone in the local community interested in art-making for wellbeing. It particularly supports those who experience anxiety, sensory overload, or social isolation. The consistent weekly format and low-pressure environment will provide structure, comfort, and accessibility.

Programme curated by Sylvia Keck, Community Engagement Curator at Looking Forward. Realised in partnership with SET and thanks to the support of the National Lottery Community Fund.

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Host or Publisher Looking Forward - Art Projects